Atong English Dictionary Second Edition 26072016 PDF

Atong English
Dictionary
Second Edition
Seino van Breugel
Atong English Dictionary

Second Edition
Seino van Breugel, 2015
This version: 26 July 2016
TYNGBO
Ie diksyneriaw ta tangkana phal. Ie diksyneriaw onlinemangmangsa
hanthia. Phalthang jakhalwamimangmangnasa printing khana mana.
NOTE
This dictionary has been made for free online publication and distribution
and should not be sold for money. Printing of this dictionary is allowed
for personal use only.
The Atong alphabet

letters
A
B
C
D
E
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
W
Y
a
b
c
d
e
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
r
s
t
u
w
y
names
examples
raka
a
ba
cha
da
e
ga
ha
i
ja
ka
la
ma
na
o
pa
ra
sa
ta
u
wa
y
mymsa
Atong
baju
chak
dam
era
gawi
haba
ichi
jabek
khuchuk
laha
mai
net
ongang
panchung
rai
symgong
tyi
uching ~ ukching
wak
ymbyng
Table of contents
The Atong alphabet .......................................................................................... 3
Acknowledgements .......................................................................................... 5
Introduction ...................................................................................................... 6
About Atong and its Speakers .......................................................................... 7
What do we see in the dictionary? .................................................................... 7
Abbreviations for word classes and entry types .............................................. 11
Symbols used in the dictionary ....................................................................... 12
Abbreviations for semantic domains of nouns ................................................ 12
ATONG ENGLISH DICTIONARY ......................................................... 13
APPENDICES ............................................................................................. 166
Counting in Atong ............................................................................... 167
Numbers borrowed from English ......................................................... 171
Numbers borrowed from Hindi ............................................................ 171
Days of the Week ................................................................................ 172
Months of the Year .............................................................................. 172
Lexicon of Kinship Terms: Atong English ........................................ 173
Lexicon of Kinship Terms: English Atong ........................................ 176
Names of some places and rivers in Atong........................................... 177
Acknowledgements
I wish to thank all Atong speakers who have provided me with hospitality, help
and information, which made it possible for me to make this dictionary. Many
of the words and sentences in this dictionary are taken from the texts I recorded
during my stay with the Atongs on various occasions between 2004 and 2014. I
want to thank all the authors of the stories I recorded: Ms Dorina A Sangma,
Mr Todan M Sangma, Mr Ranus M Sangma, Mr Tonton M Sangma and his
parents, Mr Renjen S Marak, Mr Thangring (Rangsewa) M Sangma, Mr
Dalcheng M Sangma, Mr Miksrang J Momin, Mr Negverson M Sangma, Mr
Genda R Marak, Mr Samrat N Marak, Ms Monjilla R Sangma, Mr Johan A
Sangma, Mr Nikseng S Marak, Ms Janita M Sangma, Mr Kempai A Sangma,
Ms Jamila M Sangma, Mr, Derus R Marak, Mr Sandish M Sangma, Mr
Dilseng R Sangma, Mr Kiubirth M Sangma, Mr Cheng M Sangma, Mr
Jentibirth M Sangma, Mr Silcheng M Sangma.
When I collected the texts, they were first recorded on tape. They had to
be written down, and I could not have done that by myself. Therefore, my
special thanks go to Mr Salseng R Sangma, Mr Sandish M Sangma, Mr Ranus
M Sangma, Mr Tonton M Sangma, Mr Bitter M Sangma, Mr Inden R Sangma,
Mr Plindar R Marak, Mr Shyam R Marak and Mr Samrat N Marak for their
help in writing down and translating the stories. Their enthusiasm and devotion
are truly remarkable!
Other words and sentences in this dictionary and from notes I made while
interacting with Atong speakers and learning the language, while still other
words where intentionally added to the dictionary by a variety of speakers,
whom I all thank for their contributions. My thanks also go out to eveyone who
commented on my queries on Facebook.
Finally, I thank the Atongs for their kindness, friendship, hospitality, care
and patience while I was learning their language and culture. You have
conquered my heart and mind, and I will never forget you.
Mythelbiok!
Seino van Breugel
Introduction
This is the second edition of the AtongEnglish Dictionary, with just under
3800 entry words and eight appendices, which are lexicons presenting the days
of the week, months of the year, Atong numbers, as well as numbers borrowed
from English and Hindi, two lexicons of kinship terms, Atong to English and
English to Atong, and a list of some names of places and rivers in Atong. This
dictionary is in the first place for the Atongs, and in the second place for
everyone else who is interested in Atong. In this edition, the mistakes
discovered in the first edition, published in 2009 by the Tura Book Room, have
been corrected, and new words, expressions and examples have been added.
This edition is therefore bigger and better. If mistakes are discovered in this
edition, they will be corrected and a new version of the dictionary will be
uploaded online. The date of the current version is indicated on the second
page. Readers can help to make the dictionary better. If you see any mistake,
please contact me via Facebook, or write an email to me, Dr Seino van Breugel,
via the email address atongmorot@gmail.com. Please indicate precisely where
you found the mistake and suggest a correction. All suggested corrections will
be checked before any changes are made to the dictionary.
The spelling used in this dictionary is explained in the Atong Spelling
Guide and is also used in the book Atongmorot Balgaba Golpho. The Spelling
Guide, the story book and this dictionary are available online for download
without cost at the website https://independent.academia.edu/AtongKhuchuk.
The grammatical terminology used in this dictionary is explained and
discussed in A Grammar of Atong, written by Seino van Breugel, which is
available for reading only at the District Library in Baghmara, the University
Library of NEHU Tura Campus, and at the Don Bosco Mission in Shallang.
About Atong and its Speakers

The Atongs belong to the Garo Tribe, but many do not use Standard Garo to
communicate in their daily lives. Instead, they use Atong, a closely related but
nonetheless quite different speech variety. Just like any other form of speech,
Atong is a valuable means of communication for the people who speak it.
Atong is spoken by an unknown number of people in Meghalaya State in
Northeast India and adjacent areas in Bangladesh. Atong belongs to the TibetoBurman language family, just like its closest linguistic relatives Koch, Ruga
and Rabha, as well as the different dialects of Garo.1
What do we see in the dictionary?

When we read the dictionary, we see that there are words in bold face,
followed by an abbreviation in italics. The words in bold face are called the
headwords. The abbreviation in italics indicates what type of headword it is or
what word class the headword belongs to. The list of abbreviations can be
found below. Each word in Atong belongs to a certain word class, and each
word class has different grammatical properties. This information is not
important if you just want to know the spelling or translation of a word; it is
only important if you are interested in the grammar of Atong. Word classes and
their grammatical properties are explained in the book A Grammar of Atong,
which was mentioned above, in the introduction.
When the headword in a noun, indicated by the abbreviation n, we can see
that there is another abbreviation in CAPITAL LETTERS following this n.
This abbreviation in CAPITALS indicates the semantic domain of the noun.
Semantic domain has to do with the meaning of the noun. This is particularly
useful when there are two nouns with the same spelling but different meanings,
for example
bytym n ACT a good smell
bytym n BODY/FOOD fat (of human or animal), grease
See Burling, Robbins. 2003 The TibetoBurman languages of Northeastern India. In: Thurgood,
Graham and Randy J. LaPolla (eds.). The SinoTibetan languages. London, New York: Routledge.
169191.
8
The first noun is an action noun, which is translated as a good smell; whereas
the second noun has to do with the body of a human or animal, or with food,
and can be translated as fat (of human or animal) or grease.
Headwords can be preceded by an equal sign = or a hyphen -, which
means that they do not occur as a separate word in a sentence, but are rather
attached to some other word. For example, the headword =cha can be used in
sacha dont eat and gak can be used in reenggakok. Headwords with an
equal sign are called enclitics, while headwords with a hyphen are called
prefixes. What this means is explained in the book A Grammar of Atong. Most
of the enclitics cannot be translated with just one word in English. In these
cases, when you want to know their exact meaning, you can find it in A
Grammar of Atong. That book also has a dictionary, and when you look for an
enclitic there, it will tell you the section in the grammar where the enclitic is
discussed. Some enclitics can also be used as particles, in which case they are
still presented with an equal sign in the headword; this is because their use as
enclitic is more frequent in the recorded material.
Verbs are presented in their root form and followed by a hyphen, for
example:
sa- v to eat
The hyphen means that the root is usually followed by another meaninful part:
a suffix or enclitic; as in sabo, sachaka, sakhuni, saak, samanok etc. The
root form is the form of the verb without any enclitics or suffixes.
Some headwords have more than one form or spelling. This can be
because different forms are used by different speakers in different villages, or
in different grammatical constructions, or simply because different forms are
variable without any limitations. Different forms or spellings of the same
headword are separated by the tilde ~, for example:
mimang ~ memang n PERS ghost, spirit of a dead person.
changkui ~ chengkui ~ chawkyi ~ chawki n ART big knife
When a word has more than one form, all forms can be found in their own
alphabetical place in the dictionary; they all have their separate entry. This
means that there is a separate entry in the dictionary that starts with the
headword memang, and three more entries that each start with one of the
other forms of changkui. This way, all different forms can be looked up
separately, no matter what form you usually use.
9
After the headword and the abbreviations, we find the English translation
of the headword. Sometimes, a word cannot be translated with another word in
English. In these cases, a description is given, for example:
sot n ANIM very small species of fly that comes out in the evening
and at night and cause itchiness
Sometimes, a translation needs some explanation, for example, the translation
of the headword dam ~ dym is bam! or thud! followed by the explanation
sound of something heavy hitting the ground:
dam ~ dym ideo bam! thud! the sound of something heavy hitting
the ground
In many cases, the English translation is followed by one or more
example sentences in Atong and their translation into English. The examples
sentences in Atong are always written in italics. In the example sentences
following an enclitic headword, for example =wa, the enclitic is underlined to
draw attention to its use, since it does not occur as a separate word. An example
of such an enclitic headword with an example sentence is:
=wa encl factitive Bisang reengwa? Where have you been?
We can see that after the headword, the abbreviation in italics indicates that it
is an enclitic. After that, the label of the enclitic is given; in the above example,
the label is factitive. Since this is a dictionary and not a grammar book, the
labels of enclitics are not explained; example sentences are given to illustrate
the use of the enclitic and its translations in all its different grammatical
functions. If the reader wants to know the grammatical details, please read A
Grammar of Atong, written by Seino van Breugel, which is available for
reading only at the District Library in Baghmara, the University Library of
NEHU Tura Campus, and at the Don Bosco Mission in Shallang. In that
grammar book, when you look up the enclitic headword =wa, you will see an
indication of the chapter or section in the book where the enclitic is explained
in detail, like this:
=wa encl factitive
To recapitulate, here are two examples of entries from the dictionary with
all the different parts indicated separately.
10
abbreviation indicating
the type of headword
translation
headword
dam ~ dym ideo bam! thud! the sound of something heavy hitting the ground
Ytykyimuna tokkyrengaw manaimunga hachina wuuuuuuuk dym!
takramphinoknotyi phylgym galwaan. So then, having got him in the neck,
the giant eagle fell to the ground wooooosh bam!
translation of the
example sentence
example sentence in Atong
indication of the semantic

domain of the noun
headword
galdai n PLANT star fruit, carambola, averrhoa carambola
abbreviation indicating
the type of headword
translation
scientific name in Latin
A final remark: if you cannot find a word starting with k, p or t, try if it starts
with kh, ph or th.
11
Abbreviations for word classes and entry types

The word classes in this list are defined and discussed in: van Breugel, Seino.
2014. A grammar of Atong. Leiden Boston: Brill.
adj1
adjective Type 1
tw
time word (non-deictic)
adj2
adjective Type 2
verb
adv
adverb
bound
bound morpheme
clf
classifier
conj
conjunction
dem
demonstrative
disccon
discourse connective
dtw
deictive time word
encl
verb, used in the

definition of event
specifiers, e.g.
ang V away etc.
Instead of the V a
semantically appropriate
verb can be inserted, e.g.
byt- to drive etc. The
result will then be
bytang- to drive away.
enclitic
vB
evsp
event specifier
expr
idiomatic expression
ideo
ideophone
Primary-B verb
(transitive verb that can
take goal-marked clausal
complements)
interj
interjection
vgoal
interr
interrogative word
verb that takes a Target

argument with the Goal
enclitic <=na>
khjyks
khatha jyksai, coordinate

compound that consists
of two synonyms
vintr
intransitive verb
verb that cannot take any

argument, i.e. with zero
valency
vpan
verb with a prototypically

associated noun
noun
num
numeral
postp
postposition
ppron
personal pronoun
vphase
phasal verb
procl
proclause
vs1
prof
indefinite proform
intransitive verb which

can only take one specific
argument
prtcl
particle
vsec
qtf
quantifier word
sfx
suffix
Secondary verb (can take

goal-marked clausal
complements)
vtr
transitive verb
12
Symbols used in the dictionary

SYMBOL
NAME
FUNCTION
~
=
-
tilde
equal sign
hyphen
separates the different forms of a headword

indicates that the headword is an enclitic
indicates that the headword is a suffix, or that a
root is usually followed by antoher meaningful
part
Abbreviations for semantic domains of nouns

ABSTR abstract noun
ACT
human activities, results

of or circumstances
related to such activities
PERS
persons, designations for

people or groups of
people
ANIM
animals
PLACE places, landmarks and

points used for
orientation
ART
artefacts including
materials and tools used
in their production
PLANT plants and parts of plants
BODY
body parts of humans and

animals
CORP
diseases or substances
produced by the body
FOOD
food items, ingredients

used for food
GEO
QUAL
qualities
QUANT quantities
SHAPE geometrical and other
forms and shapes
SUBST
substances (not those

used for food or for the
production of artefacts)
geographic, geological or
natural phenomena
SUPER
ghosts, spirits and other

supernatural beings
KIN
kinship terms
TIME
time expressions
MSRE
measure terms
ATONG ENGLISH DICTIONARY
ATONG-ENGLISH DICTIONARY
hm ideo grunt!
hmmmm ideo sigh!
mhm procl Thats right.
A
-a ~ -ai evsp V towards the speaker
Nangdo hambun isang
raiaphinwachi, jykthangaw
bytaibone. Later, when you come
back here, bring your wife, OK.
Angdo hanep nangsang
reengni. Raiabo. I will
go/come to your place tomorrow.
Come. Chungkhalga sabanthai
nokchina phetaaknoro The eldest
son arrived home, it is said.
=a encl customary aspect
Kanjotano Ketketa Burae.
Ketketa Bura is skinny, it is said.
Phasgaba hahawchenga.
Umungsa hahawaimungsa
wacham tana. Umungdo marsja
somaidarangchi sawa. First, the
jungle is cut. Then, having cut the
jungle, the old rice stalks are cut.
Then, in the month of March, [the
dry wood] is burnt. Ning
songsyrekdo, ning Atongdo,
dakangdo mamyng thorom
niwami somaichido waiaw mania.
We heathens, we, the Atongs, in
the past, in a time that there were
no denominations, worshipped
spirits.
aak aak ideo caw, caw! the call of
the crow
abek n ART long hollow drinking
spoon made of a dried fruit with a
hole at the top and a hole in the
side of the bulge at the bottom
used to scoop rice beer (chyw) out
14
of the filter (janti) which stands in

the middle of a large earthen pot
(gora) filled with fermented rice
(sithi). The spoon is held by its
long slim part and slowly lowered
into the liquor in the filter. The
liquor seeps into the spoon though
the hole in the bulge. Then the
spoon is carefully pulled out again,
and the liquor is drunk by
emptying the spoon in the mouth
through the opening in the top of
the slim end without touching it
with the lips.
abi n KIN elder sister. Mothers-inlaw can call each other abi too.
abong n PLANT corn
abu n KIN grandmother. This word
is also used to address an unrelated
elderly woman.
abun adj2/qtf next, following,
neighbouring, other, someone
elses. Also occurring as quantifier
after classifiers. Bil
nogabamynggymyn
abundyrangmyngaw naakno.He
heard about this so called Bil from
other people. Ytykyisa san abunchi
thymai chaina joton kawano. So
then, the following morning, he
tried to lie hidden and watch. Boba
myngsagabachi myng abun
bobachi teewdo bobarara
myngni golpho kharukokno. The
first crazy person to the other
crazy person, now, among crazy
persons, the two of them gossiped
to each other, it is said.
achepchep n ANIM species of
cricket
achi- vintr to be born Ang
Dajongchi achiwa. I was born in
Dajong.
achu ambi khjyks PERS ancestors
Anga ie dakangmi achu
ambimigymynaw baletni. I am
going to tell about our ancestors of
long ago.
achu n KIN grandfather. Can also
be used by a grandson when
addressing his grandfather. This
word is also used to address an
unrelated elderly man. achu ambi
grandparents, ancestors. This word
is also used to talk about or
address an elephant when you are
in the jungle.
achuthangmaran n KIN a
grandfather and his grandchild
ade n KIN stepmother
aganggi n ANIM species of
grasshopper
agos n TIME August
agre ~ agrai adv too much
aguk n ANIM grasshopper (generic
term for the species)
agychi n PLANT species of tree
agynja n TIME (archaic) November
ah interj oh! Expresses surprise.
-ai ~ -a evsp V towards the speaker
Nang jykaw ning songsang
bytaibo. Take your wife to our
village. Chungkhalga sabanthai
nokchina phetaaknoro The eldest
son arrived home, it is said.
Angdo hanep nangsang
reengni. Raiabo. I will
go/come to your place tomorrow.
Come.
=ai ~ =e encl (1) contrastive topic
(2) emphatic positive illocutionary
force Magachakdo: Hai baisiga
biskut sakhawna noaidongano.
Hyt mancha nangba atong
budi nowano pherue. The dear
[said]: Come on, friend! I want to
steak the biscuits. What?! No!
15
What are you thinking?! [said]

the fox. Nangtymdo phylgymaw
nukchawakhonai! You might not
see the eagle at all! Ooo!
Mykgythaldo dongcha
jywmangsama, ma nang bimang
sylwaai. (Wilseng S Marak) Ooo! Is it
real or is it a dream, but your body
is really beautiful!
aiaiai interj interjection to call a
pig
aia interj oh! wow! oh no!
Expresses surprise or grief.
aiai interj interjection of excitement
aiaw interj interjection of surprise
or disappointment Ha,
achudyrang, ie mola nangtymna.
Iaw jamai ryngna manchido,
nangtym dawphylgym manni.
Ryngbo, noai hynokonaro.
Ryngarokno ytymba. Myngsa
ryngai chyiokno. Aiaw! Angdo
manchawa achu! Phekni ido,
phekni. Here, grandsons, this
tobacco is for you. If you can
smoke this, you will get that eagle.
Smoke it, he said and gave it to
them. They smoked. One of them
tried to smoke it. Wow! I cant,
grandpa! It makes my head spin.
aiding n ACT hopscotch (a
childrens game)
=aidonga ~ =aidong ~ =aidok ~
=aronga ~ =arong ~ =arok ~
=edonga ~ =edong ~ =edok ~
=eronga ~ =erong ~ =erok encl
progressive/durative aspect
Atakarong nono? Nok
ryphierok. What are you doing,
younger sister? Im plastering
the house.
ain n ACT custom, law, tradition
ain niam khjyks/n laws, customs,
traditions
aina n ART mirror Ainachi
chaiwachi phalthangaw nuka.
When I look in the mirror I see
myself.
aiu interj wow! oh! oh no!
Expresses surprise or grief
aiy interj interjection of inquiry and
surprise: what are you doing?!
aja n KIN elder sister
ajam- vintr to yawn
ajip n ART fan
ajot n ART childrens game played
with two groups of unlimited size.
Between the two groups sits a
person called the king. Children
from both groups have to whisper
the name of a child from the other
group into the kings ear, first a
child from one group, then a child
from the other group. If two
children whisper the same name,
the king will call Ajot! and the
person whose name has been
whispered is out. The group that is
depleted first loses.
ajuju n SUPER ghost that is a
person without legs or which looks
like a monkey. It jumps from tree
to tree and has a long tongue with
which it can hit people, who then
melt.
ak- v to pluck (leaves, fruit etc. not
feathers), to pick (flowers)
=ak ~ =ok ~ =k encl perfective
aspect /change of state Nang ie
tupi bimi raak? Where did you
get that cap? Bisang reengok?
Where did [he] go? Churi
matanchak. The knife is not sharp
anymore.
akai n KIN aunt: mothers elder
sister. Also used to address an
unrelated married woman older
than the speaker.
16
akaithangmaran n KIN my akai

and her younger sisters child
akan n ART wooden rack above the
cooking fire used to put meat to
dry and to store utensils and
baskets
akyrudygyl ~ akrudygyl n PLANT
pumpkin
alabok n ANIM white crane bird
alaga adj2/n PERS other
(person/thing), somebody else,
different Alaga morotna dymdym
damdam hynna bai. Dont just
give it to someone else. song
alaga another village
ali clf classifier for small heaps or
piles of things narang alitham
three piles of oranges
alsia ~ halsia n PERS lazy person
althu- adj1 easy
alu n PLANT potato
alukotar n ART helicopter
alupren n ART aeroplane
am ~ ym procl I agree, affirmative,
okay, thats right, yes Ichi taw
banok nookno. Ym. Rawbo
nookno. Theres a bird trapped
here he said, it is said. Ok, catch
it, he said it is said. Ang
jywchengnine Ym. I will go to
bed now. Okay.
ama n KIN mother. Can also be
used to talk about or address an
aunt. Can also be used by a mother
to address her daughter.
amak n ANIM monkey; macaque
aman n ART pestle, heavy wooden
pole used for flattening rice in an
assam by pounding aman goini
two pestles
Ambi Chakkhen n SUPER a liana
(hanging root) that turns into an
old lady at night. The old lady has
very long arms and hands with
very long nails. She will ask you
to scratch her long arm and if you
refuse, she will scratch you to
death with her long nails.
Ambi Jakbyryt n SUPER ghost
that is only a hand. It scratches the
back of someone walking in the
dark.
ambisuthyk n ANIM species of
gold-coloured metallic beetle that
flips itself back on its feet when it
lies on its back
ambithangmaran n KIN a
grandmother and her grandchild
ambret bambret n ACT childrens
game
ambyrai n PLANT species of tree.
The small green fruits of this tree
look like gooseberries, but are
hard and bitter. When you eat
them and then drink water, the
water tastes sweet.
amu n PLANT species of tree
=an encl focus/identifier enclitic
Magachakmi myndo tyisiwachian
miniksuru takjolarianoro. The
deers fur, when it is whet, just
gets flat-haired quickly. Hai, ang
ganang. Angan Raja. Angan
balthumni. Come on! I am here. I
am the king. I will speak on your
behalf.
anai n KIN aunt: fathers sister
anaros n PLANT pineapple
-ang evsp V away, V without
holding back, V affluently
Teewdo gasamok. raina
mananchak. Phetangna dakang
walnaka. Now it has become
evening. We cant go anymore. It
will certainly be night before we
arrive. Iskyn jangaba songsang
detheng jalangok. He has run
17
away to such a far-away country.

Chabi bichi tanangok? Where did
you put away the key?
Gathyngaimuna thylangok.
Because he kicked it, it went very
far. Ang ie hathapyraaw teen
nygylsang raangaimyng phalni. I
will bring these ashes to the
market later and sell them. Taini
balwa tharakai balwaangok. The
wind blew strong today. Kynsang
golphook golphook golphook.
golpho khawachie walangaidok.
Later on they talked and talked
and talked extensively. When they
talked, it was becoming night.
ang ppron I, me, first person
singular Ang gumukmyng matjichi
muaidonga. Im sitting in the
middle of everybody. Ang
nangaw balni. I will tell about
you. Ang phulistaw khapeta
bajuaw tokwana I am angry with
the police because they beat up my
friend.
anyng n KIN (1) aunt: fathers
sister (2) sister-in-law: husbands
wife
aphap n PLANT yeast used to
make sithi fermented rice
aphubawbyl n PLANT species of
tree
aphut n PLANT species of tree
apun n ART fishing hook
apunkara n ART fishing line
apunphong n ART fishing rod
aragong n PERS a person who is
too big for his age
=ari encl simplicitive enclitic, just,
simply Reengaribo. Just go.
Dongarini. Thats all right. /
Thats okay. / No worries.
aro conj/disccon and, furthermore,
moreover
=aro ~ =ro encl (1) declarative
enclitic (2) enclitic signalling that
the speaker will say more
Jalangaimyng kynsangdo
jangabamyng ytykyi
olrukoknoaro: angae soke
sokchak. After running away, they
spoke to each other like this, it is
said: I cant take it anymore.
Ytykyimuna phalthang kanga
baguaw awan awan dethengba
ichi dykymchi wenoknoro. So then,
he forgetfully wound his loin cloth
around his head, it is said, Im
telling you!
asa n PLANT species of tree
asakotoi n PLANT species of tree
asalchong n ANIM species of
black hairy caterpillar that lives on
jackfruit trees
asalja n TIME (archaic) June
asam n ART mortar, big heavy
hollowed log in which rice is
flattened by pounding it with an
aman. asam pan byryi four
mortars
asel n PLANT species of tree
aset- ~ asyt- v to throw away, to
dispose of, jyk aset- to divorce
Alsia rajae jyk asetai
jalangwachie songreangokno. The
lazy king divorced his wives and
travelled away, it is said. Kereng
nokkynchi asetaribo. Just throw
the bones away behind the house.
asingja ~ asyngja n TIME (archaic)
September
aski ~ askhui ~ askui n GEO star
asok n ART (1) type of woven
bamboo basket to keep live pigs in
to sell at the market (2) type of
fish trap that is suspended on the
edge of a waterfall
asol adv really, truly
18
-asol evsp really, truly Udo gari

rakasolai bytaimu galatwa. He
drove his bike really fast and fell.
asu n PLANT thorn, fishbone
asyi ~ asi n KIN aunt: mothers
younger sister
asyngja ~ asingja n TIME (archaic)
September
asynthalak n ANIM species of fish
asyt- ~ aset- v to throw away, to
dispose of, jyk aset- to divorce
Alsia rajae jyk asetai
jalangwachie songreangokno. The
lazy king divorced his wives and
travelled away, it is said.
ata n FOOD flour
atak n PLANT species of tree
atak- v to do what? (interrogative
verb) Aiaw! Angdo
chykaidonga. Atakwa?
Teewmangmangsa tyiruwa
naa. Oh! Im cold! What
have you done? I just took a
bath, man! Kynsangdo
atakoknowa jamjolai gopcha
amakawe. What happened later? /
What did they do later? They
didnt burry him at all, the
monkey. Naa atakna
jumuaidonga ie
hathaphyraawe? nowano. Why
are you collecting these ashes?
they said, it is said. Atakgaba
raja naa angna gore
lapchagabaaw watetwa nookno.
What kind of king are you that you
send me a good-for-nothing
horse?!
atakai ~ atykyi interr how? Ie
alsia raja atykyi khengaidok?
Atykyian jykaw haldunna
manaidok? noai morotdyrang
chanchiphinaidoknoro. How does
this lazy king live? How does he
feed his wives? thought the
people, it is said.
atakna interr why?
atha n MSRE half
athamphang n GEO the planet
Venus
athom n BODY stomach
atong interr what?
Atong n ART/PERS the Atong
language, Atong person
atongba prof something
Gethengna atongawba hynbo.
Buy something for him Seino naa
teew nang songsang reengchido
angna atongbaaw rabone. Seino,
if you now go to your country, buy
me something, OK.
atongtykyi interr how? how come?
why?
atykyi ~ atakai interr how? Ie
people, it is said.
atyw ~ atyyyw interj interjection of
surprise (usually pronounced long)
Atong jabekchi dywwa naa
ama? Balboto! nookno. Niwa
naa! Dywanchate mamungawba.
Phylgymsa dywwa naa ue.
Nanang garu ramtananggachi
dietdapai tanangwa nookno.
Phylgym deetdapettanangwa?!
nookno. Hoong nookno.
Atyyyyw! Ido dian thawokona,
randaido atongtykyi
thawarongnaka, mo ama?!
nookno. What have you put in the
curry, mother? Tell me! he said.
Nothing, Im telling you! I didnt
put in anything. It was an eagle
19
that put something in it. It shat in

the mustard leaves we had left
outside to dry, she said. An
eagle shat in it?! he said. Yes,
she said. Whaaat?! If this shit is
so very tasty, imagine how tasty
the meat will be, right, mother?!
he said.
=aw ~ =taw encl accusative enclitic
Ranustaw nukama nukancha?
Have you seen Ranus or not? Jemi
sanchi Dibangkongdangaw matsa
kakok. One day, Dibangkongdang
was bitten by a tiger. Panaw jap
khaaimu kawtawna thymokno.
Having made a defence wall out of
wood, they lay in ambush to shoot
upward, it is said. Usangaw
rangpynramsangaw ha hawai
saairongno. Over there, at
Rangpynram they lived of the
land, it is said. Samaw chaaw
itykyi tokano. They trample the
grass like this, with their feet.
awa n KIN father
awan n ART winnowing basket
Awanchi mai chawa. Rice is
winnowed in a winnowing basket.
awan- vtr to forget
awang n KIN (1) uncle: fathers
younger brother (2) what children
call their stepfather
awyi n KIN grandmother
B
baaa interj wow! Expresses
astonishment.
=ba encl indefinite/additive/
contrastive topic/affirmative
Nokchi ang dyngdang muchiba,
sungmaneta anga nangna. (Aristo J
Momin) Whenever I am sitting at
home along, I think of you. Uchie
bythyiba reengok, machokba
reengok, magachakba reengok.
Then, the porcupine went and the
small deer went and the big deer
went. Nemaidongama baisiga?
Nemaidongaba. Are you well,
my friend? Im well indeed.
ba- v to be born, to give birth Sa
baak. The child is born, or [She]
gave birth to a child. Ang Sijuchi
bawa. I was born in Siju. Angaw
ama Sijuchi bawa. My mother
gave birth to me in Siju. sa bana
sa- to go into labour Ytykyimuna
jywgado noksangdo oganangarok
nookona, sa bana saarokno.
Ytykyimuna morotdo myngsaba
niokno. Ytykyimuna kynsangdo
uchian dyngdang sa baaknoSo
then, the mother was at home,
pregnant. She was going into
labour; but there was nobody
there. So then, she gave birth to
the child by herself.
ba- v to carry a child (in a cloth on
the body) Dada jojongaw
baaidonga. The older brother is
carrying his younger brother.
Nawgabaaw janawgaba okmachi
baaidok. The elder sister is
carrying her younger sister on the
front of her body.
basek n ART cloth in which to
carry a baby on the body
baaa ideo Moo! the sound a cow
makes
baba n KIN father, daddy, dad. Can
also be used by father or mother
when they address their son. Can
also be used to talk about or
address an uncle.
babaji n PERS fortune teller
babelsi ~ babylsi n PLACE kitchen
babu n PERS child or baby (used to
call a small child or baby)
20
Babyra n SUPER supreme god

bada n MSRE a bunch
badai- vtr to cross beyond the limit,
to pass a certain point Changba
getheng songmi baiaw badaiok.
Somebody crossed the border of
his village. Dolong khagabaaw
badaiwachi, ramchi agal
sawgaba ganang. When you will
have passed the hanging bridge,
there will be a forest fire along the
road.
badal- v to unfold phul badala
flowers unfold. Ang ie lekhaaw
badalaidonga. I am unfolding this
paper.
badolja n TIME (archaic) August
badym n PLACE paddy field, wet
rice field
badyng- vtr to trade, to deal in, to
do business in Dakangmi
chasongdo rangdarangaw,
rykdarangawsa barudarangawsa
badynga. As for the past
era/generation, they traded brass
gongs and all kinds of ornaments.
bagan n PLACE garden
bagu n ART cloth for man worn
around the waist
bagukhawa n ART turban with a
knot on the front side of the head
baguriwa n GEO rainbow
bai n PLACE border
bai n PERS friend, kin
bai- vintr to break Balwa
rakaimyng wa baiok. Because of
the hard wind the bamboo has
broken.
baikhop n PLANT species of big
broad green and purple bean
baimaran chingmaran khjyks/n
KIN distant relatives
baimaran n KIN distant relatives
baisakthangmaran n KIN people
who belong to the same mahari
baisiga ~ baisega n KIN friend
baiwak- v GEO land of broken-off
rocks
baibai adj2 the same Ang hanep
baibai khadi khanphinni.
Tomorrow I will wear the same
clothes again.
baidam n PERS some (people)
Ytykyisa dyngthangdyngthang
songchina hapchina jaltokna
gaakoknowa. Baidam
wathaigyrymchi muok, uawdo
wathaigythym myngok. Baidam
Rongsa thyikhalmi hawaichina
jalangok, uawdo Rongsa Hawai
myngok. Thats why they were
forced to run away to different
villages and different places, it is
said. Some stayed in
Wathaigyrym; that village is now
called Wathaigythym. Some
stayed in the plains of the river
Rongsa; that village is not called
Rongsa Hawai.
baik n ART bike
baisykyl n ART bicycle
baji n TIME oclock, hour Atong
baji teewe? Tiin baji dongok.
What time is it now? Its past
three oclock. Note that hours are
counted with numerals borrowed
from Hindi.
baju n KIN friend
bak- vtr to make barren, to weed
out all the plants, to scrape with a
spade or chopper Samsiaw
bakaidonga. She is scraping away
the weeds with a spade.
Khudalsang ha bakwa. We
weeded the land with a chopper.
bak- vtr to run after someone or
something, to catch up with Kyi
21
masuaw kakna bakaidong. The

dog is running after the cow to bite
it. Rawna bakwachym ytykchiba
manancha. He ran after it to catch
it but he could not. Banggaldo
tharapna guduk takwachiba,
tarakai jalariano magachake.
Ytykyimyng bakrawraw
bakrawraw janangoknowa. When
the Bengal almost reached it, the
deer just ran fast, it is said. So
then, chasing it more and more,
they got far away, it is said.
Getheng (angaw) bakaidonga. He
is running to catch up (with me).
bakbak ~ bykbyk adv quickly
Bakbak raia! Come quickly!
baket n ART bucket
baki n ACT credit Baki hynchawa.
I dont give credit.
bakrukrak ~ bakrukylak adv
quickly, fast
baksubipha n PLANT species of
plant
bal- v to speak, to tell, to say Naa
atong khuchukaw balaidonga?
What language do you speak?
Nangmi jorae chang?
Balchawa angdo. Who is your
lover? I will not tell. Teewe ie
myngsa khelegabamynggymyn
anga choisa balna sykaidonga.
Now I want to tell a little about
this game. Bydyi myngsa balai
hynaimyng, baju takphinokno.
After an old man gave advice, they
became friends again, it is said.
Angmi balwami ichian jametwa.
Walnam. I will finish my story
telling now. Good night.
balaga n PLACE outside
balgyto n PLANT orchid
balmundyri n GEO cyclone
balphak- vtr to blow something
away
Balphakram n PLACE land of the
spirits of the dead and national
park in the South Garo Hills
District
balpisa n PLACE a place to piss
balsem- v to talk very long
balsyruk- v to whisper
balwa n GEO/SUBST wind, air
balwa- vs1 to blow (of the wind)
bam- v to brood, to sit on an egg
Taw kurungchi bamaidong. The
chicken is brooding in her nest.
bam- vgoal to obey, to surrender Ie
sagyrai angnado bamcha. This
child does not obey me. Arong
nokmae Duraaw Dorenggo
Wadachongaw panchi jap
khaaimu Englanmi Britis
gobormen sason kagabana
bamchano. Having tied a trap in a
tree, headman Arong did not
surrender to the reign of the
British government.
bamkhup ~ bangkhylok- v to bend
your head Ang (dykymaw)
bamkhupaidong pan thotniwana. I
am bending my head. because it
will hit the wooden beam,
ban- vintr to flow (of rivers)
Symsang tyi Nongal dolongtakai
banaidong. The water of the
Symsang river flows under Nongal
bridge.
ban- vtr to trap, to catch in a trap
Jaga saakno uchie, taw pangai
banokno. They set traps and then
caught many birds, it is said.
bandaw ~ bando n ART tree house
banga num five
bangbang adv empty Ang pipuk
bangbangaidongkhua. My
22
stomach is still empty. Nangmi

khathong bangbang dongchido
ang phingetni. If your heart is
empty, I will fill it.
bangbol n ANIM species of fish
Bandijalang n SUPER the tree
that lies across the beginning of
the road to Balphakram and that
acts like a gate for the spirits of the
deceased. This tree is also called
Dykhijalang
Banggal n PERS Bengali,
Bangladeshi, non-tribal person
bangganai n ANIM species of fish
banggyri- ~ banggiri v earthquake
Wadarang bairumok
banggyriaimu. All the bamboos
are broken because of the
earthquake.
banggyrigaba ~ banggirigaba n
eathrquake
bangka ~ bangkha n ART fan
bangkhylok- ~ bamkhup- v to
bend your head Ang (dykymaw)
bamkhupaidong pan thotniwana. I
am bending my head. because it
will hit the wooden beam,
Banglades n PLACE Bangladesh
bangphak n ART vertical posts at
the entrance of the bachelors
house between the floor and the
horizontal beam above the
entrance
bangsi n ART flute
banthai n PERS bachelor,
unmarried man
baphai- vtr to drop
baphe n ANIM species of large
gecko
bapre ~ baprebap interj wow!
Expresses astonishment.
bara- vtr to put in a hole, pan,
wasung, bag etc. Ang bostachi goi
baraairong. I am putting betel nuts
into the bag.
-barai evsp V always
baram- adj1 rough
baranda n PLACE veranda
barangsi n PLANT species of grass
barat n ART string that pulls the
skin of a drum tight
barat- vgoal to be ashamed, to be
shy Ie gawi nangna barataidong.
This girl is feeling shy towards
you. Nawang naa! Ang nangna
barataidong. You idiot! I am
ashamed of you.
barata n FOOD paratha, flatbread
barata phelsa one paratha
baratwami n ACT shame
bari n garden
bas n ART bus
basak- vintr to burn and cause a
rash to cause irritation or itching
Thamat ~ thamotba najekwaba
khichido basaka. If you touch the
thamat/thamot plant and the najek
bamboo they cause irritation.
Thamat basaka. Ta pyi! The
thamat plant causes irritation.
Dont touch it!
basnengthakgaba n PLACE bus
stop
basu n ANIM crown feathers of a
bird
-bat evsp indicates a superlative,
most, -est Uchi mutyngabae
bylakbatgabae Arong nokma
donganowa. The one who stayed
there as the leader was the
strongest, he was Arong Nokma, it
is said.
bat- vtr to stick in Kun
habykungchi batbo. Stick the
stick in the sand.
batdyl n ART slingshot
23
bathan adj2 lying on your back

Bathanai juwbo. Lie down on your
back.
batkhynyng- vtr to smash Ang
botolaw batkhynyngok. I smashed
the bottle.
baton n ART button
batphai- vtr to throw hard to break
something Ang botolaw batpaiok.
I threw the bottle very hard and
broke it.
batpyret- vtr to smash by throwing
something to the ground
batro ~ uchingrawi n ANIM
species of brown leech that lives in
the soil and mud
baw- vtr to dry: to make jerky, to
dry vegetables Atakaidonga?
Randaiaw bawaidong. What are
you doing? I am making jerky.
bawang clf length of the widely
stretched arms and hands
bawbaw ideo woof! woof! the
sound a dog makes
bawbyl chambyl n khjyks/n PERS
enemy
bawbyl n PERS enemy
bawen n SHAPE circle bawen sene
seven circles
bawen- v to move in a circle, to
make a circle around something, to
encircle, to be rolled up Ie nokaw
atakna bawenaidong? Why are
you walking around this house?
Dypyw bawenai muaidonga. The
snake is lying rolled up. Pan
panga morotaw bawena. There
are many trees, they encircle the
man.
bawili ~ bawyli n ART pliers to put
logs on the fire
bawra n ACT arrogance bawra takto be arrogant
bebe adv truly
bebe raa vtr to believe Nang
memangaw beberaama ganag
noai?. Do you believe in the
existence of ghosts? Ang nangchi
bebe raa nang
khakhetdongana.I believe you
because you are an honest person.
Ang nangaw bebe racha. I dont
believe you.
bebylokmai n PLANT species of
tree
begyri n ANIM cow fly
bejaw- vintr to experience the
sensation of being tickled Nang
angaw thebajawwa, ang bejawok.
You tickled me and I feel tickled.
bek n ART bag
bel- ~ bil- vtr to retract the
foreskin from the glans penis
Nang riaw belbo. Retract your
foreskin!
belcha n ART spade
benek- v to damage
bengblok n ANIM toad, species of
frog
bera n ART a fence
beraberi ~ dengdyl n ART loosely
woven bamboo mat used as fence
of the balcony or veranda of the
house
beraw- adj1 to contain too much
soda (MSG), said about the taste
of food
berawri n PLANT species of tree
that can be used for firewood and
to make posts for houses. The
fruits can be used as a spinning top
toy
bering n FOOD food cooked in a
wasung
bering-~ bereng- vtr to cook in a
bamboo tube (wasung) which is
24
sealed with banana leaves and

placed in the fire
beringwa ~ berengwa n FOOD
food cooked in a wasung
betyri n ART battery betyri thong
byryi four batteries
bewal n ACT tradition, habit
-bi evsp intensifier: very, very
much, severely Banggal myngsa
biskut chyrymbiai paiaidonganote.
A Bengal was carrying a very
heavy load of biscuits, it is said.
Song damsachi morot myngsa
manai sabigaba ganangnochym.
In a village supposedly lived a
very rich person, it is said.
Kumirie phangnan jykratbianowa.
Kumeri always severely accused
him of adultery. Ytykyimuna
Ketketa Burae duk manbiai
pheruna balsakoknowa So then,
Ketketa Bura, very much struck
with grief, answered the fox
Uchie Thengthone: Nangtym
ang noknaw sawwaba, ang
nangtymaw mythelbiok. Then
Thengthon said: I thank you very
much for burning down my
house.
bichamchym n ACT fragment
bithyn ~ pithyn n BODY liver
bia n ACT wedding bia kha- to
marry, to have a wedding bia
khaak to be married
biambong n BODY biceps
biawthang n KIN brother-in-law:
wifes elder brother
biawthangmaran n KIN my wifes
elder brother and me together
biba interr when? Naa bibasa
raiani? When exactly will you
come?
biba n CORP/SUBST breath,
vapour, steam
bibasa adv wherever
bibyrokhon ~ bibakoron adv some
day
bichi interr where?
bichiba adv sometimes, somewhere
Ang chabiaw bichiba thagalok. I
dropped my key somewhere.
bichiba bichiba adv sometimes,
seldom
bichylap n BODY abdominal
membrane
bie interr which? where? Sam
manama. Bie same? The medicine
stinks. Which medicine? Bie
nang jongdyrange? Nang jonge
bie? nookno janggaklchi
syngokno. Where is your
younger brother? Your younger
brother, where is he? she said, it
is said.
bigaba ~ biga interr which?
Bigaaw biskut ranima? Which
biscuits shall I buy?
biji n ART injection, injection
needle biji su- to give an injection
biji phong ni two injections, two
injection needles
bijyrang- vtr to hang to dry Khadi
bijyrangbo. Hang the clothes to
dry.
bikha n MSRE surface of 80 by 80
pit
bil- ~ bel- vtr to retract the
foreskin from the glans penis
Nang riaw belbo. Retract your
foreskin!
bilding n ART house built with
cement, building
bimang n BODY/ABSTR body,
appearance
bimung ~ bimyng n ABSTR name
Angmi bimung Samrat myngwa.
My name is Samrat.
25
bins n PLANT species of green

bean
bipha n PERS lad, man, male Gawi
khaketsaan songchi muariok,
bipha kakhetdo palyngsang
jalangok. Only the women stayed
in the village, all the men ran away
to the jungle. masu bipha bull
mongma bipha male elephant
biphagaba n PERS husband
biri n ART cigarette
bisang interr to where? from
where?
bisangba prof somewhere Getheng
bisangba reengok. He has gone
somewhere.
bisangmi ~ bisangmyng interr
from where?
bisi n SUBST poison
biskut n FOOD biscuit biskut kepsa
one biscuit (focus on small size
and flatness) biskut phelsa one
biscuit (focus on the fact that it is a
baked thing)
biskyn interr how much? how
many?
bistibal n TIME Thursday
bisyl n ART coin
bitykyi interr by which way?
Bitykyi reengnima? Ie
ramtykyima utykyi? By which way
shall we go? By this road or by
that one?
=bo encl imperative mood Sabo!
Eat!
borang n ART tree house
boba n PERS crazy man, idiot, fool
bobi n PERS crazy woman, idiot,
fool
bobylawthok n PERS fool
bochi (Siju dialect) ~ jachung
(Badri dialect) n KIN sister-inlaw: elder brothers wife
boda n PERS ignoramus, dumbass
bodol- vtr to change Nang jama
bodolbo. Manamok! Change your
shirt. It stinks! Disk bodolbo. Ie
jamok. Change the CD. This one is
finished.
boiom n ART a jug boiom thai sa
one jug Getheng boiom thai
tham baiok. He broke three jugs.
boisaja n TIME (archaic) April
bokbok ~ bongbong ~ bong n
PERS liar Ta bong! You liar!
bol- v to cause irritation or itching
Thamat bola. Ta pyi! The thamat
plant causes irritation. Dont touch
it!
boli n ACT offering to a spirit,
Songgumukan ue mongmawana
wai khurutaisa boli hynaisa
manai sathokwano. Because the
whole village prayed and offered
to the elephant tusks, they all
became very rich, it is said.
bonduk ~ bondyk ~ byndyk n
ART gun, shotgun
bongbong ~ bong ~ bokbok n
PERS liar Ta bong! You liar!
-bongbong evsp V too much, V
more than necessary, V in
abundance, V scandalously much
Nanangachido tiktikcha.
Sabongbong ryngbongbong.
Mangabaaw saphet ryngphet.
We do not meet our expenses with
our money. We are gluttons and
drunks/We always eat too much
and drink too much. Those who
are rich are self-destructive drunks
and gluttons.
bonyng n KIN brother-in-law: the
relation of a man and his younger
sisters husband or a man and his
wifes elder brother
26
borong n PLANT cob, part of the

fruit where the seeds are set in
abongborong cob of corn.
Jackfruit also has a cob which is
called panchungborong jackfruit
cob
bosok- v to itch, to be irritated, to
experience the sensation of
irritation or itching Najekwa
khiaimu cha bosokaidonga.
Having touched the najek bamboo
my leg is itching.
bosta n ART big bag to transport
things like rice and betel nut in
bostu n ART thing, things, stuff
bostu myngtham three things
bot- vtr to court, to woo, to flatter
Nang Turachi nawmyl botwama?
Did you court the girls in Tura?
bot n ART a gift
botol n ART bottle or its volume,
bottleful
breket ~ brekyt n bracket
Breketmyng nyngchi chipgaba
katha pangai gamchatcha. The
words in brackets are not very
important.
Britis n PERS British
bu- adj1 to be sharp (of pointed
things)
buchok- vintr to be sharp (of
pointy objects)
buchot n PLANT mango
buchithangmaran ~
bochithangmaran n KIN my wife
and her sister or brother together
buchotpan n PLANT mango tree
budbal n TIME Wednesday
budok budok ideo the call of the
dawbudok
budu n PLANT creeper
bugyryk n PLANT species of
vegetable
bui- adj1 murky, turbid Tyi buia.
The water is murky/turbid.
buk- vintr to grow like a creeper or
liana
bukalang adj2 to have holes in it
(of clothes)
bukylek n ANIM species of big
grasshopper
bul- vtr to dig up, to unearth, to stir
Noksamsang khudal paiaimyng,
tangkaaw bulai Thengthonna
hynetokno. Having carried a
chopper to the side of the house,
he dug up the money and gave it to
Thengthon, it is said.
buna n ANIM big black and yellow
flying insect
burbok ~ bulbok n PERS idiot
-burung sfx a group of more than
two persons
burung n/clf a bush, classifier for
bushes, or patches or clusters of
trees Palengma
burungbangabanga hawwaan
pungphek phingano. Having
cleared [an area of] five palengma
trees each, [they] filled up a
granary each. (Because the land
was so fertile they could grow
enough rice on a relatively small
area, namely a patch the size of
five palengma trees, to fill up an
entire granary with the harvest.)
busi n GEO/ART dust that is stirred
up by the wind or by human
activity
but n SUPER spirit that leads you
astray
but- v to squeeze in, to penetrate, to
go inside a hole Saphawba
hangkhalnyngsang butai
jalangokno. The rabbit runs away
and squeezes into a hole. Bandi
palyng butangwachi matsa
27
chunggaba gorongokno. When

Bandi penetrated the jungle, he
met a big tiger, it is said. Nekat
wa hangkhal nyngsang
butangaidonga. The bees are
going into the bamboo hole.
Hangkhalaw butaimuna
jalangokno. Having penetrated the
hole, he ran away, it is said.
butang n PERS fucker (swearword)
butbal n TIME Wednesday
buthu- ~ buthyw-~ bythyw- vintr
to boil (of water)
buthu- vtr to seal, to close a
receptacle by putting something in
the opening Wasung rekchaksang
buthuok. The bamboo tube is
sealed with banana leaves.
butsa n ANIM species of big red
ant
=butung encl concomitant action
Uchi mubutung somaichi badri
nemen manai saano. At the time
they were living there, Badri was
very rich, it is said. Tibimi
kyrynggaba rakdugabutungchi
changba nietok. When the sound
of the TV was too strong, someone
turned it off. Getheng
sagyraibutungchiba sansan
palyngsang na punna reengwa.
When he was a child, he went to
the jungle every day to catch fish.
Getheng jywchabutungchi
kyrynggaba nawa. While she was
not yet sleeping, she heard a
sound.
bychym- vtr to pull up/out Una
myngsagaba sabanthai
myngsagaba bychymokno, uchiba
patangphaariok,
dangangphaariokno. Then one
son pulled the other out [from the
water], it is said, but then they just
crossed and they all just drowned,
it is said.
bydyi adj2 old (for persons)
bydyi badai n PERS old couple
bydyi n PERS old man
byira n ANIM cat byira amanthong
jungle cat (the pattern on the skin
of this cat is in the shape of an
aman)
byirakhem n ANIM species of bee
byisa- ~ bysa- v to dance
byisyk interr how much? how
many? San byisyk muni? How
many days will you stay?
Nangchi rong byisyk ganang?
How much money have you got?
bykbyk ~ bakbak adv quickly
bykot- vtr to unsheathe, to take out
Galaimuna kynsangdo
phylgymaw uan rykjolaimuna
kukuri byk hotaimuna
tokkyrengaw tanthongokno. After
it had fallen to the ground, he ran
quickly to the eagle, unsheathed
his knife and cut off its neck, it is
said.
bykphyl adj2 inside out Nang
jama/chola bykphyl. Your shirt is
inside out.
byl n ABSTR/BODY strength,
muscle Ido sagyraido hambundo
chungwachido alamyla byldo
bylnikhon. In the future that child
might really become a bit stronger.
byl chak khjyks strength
byl- vtr to cut and kill a big animal
or person, to slay
byl n ACT strike Masu tanna
bylsa nangni gethengo. To
slaughter the cow he needs one
strike.
byl- vtr to roll something into
something
28
bylak- adj1 strong Uchi

mutyngabae bylakbatgabae
Arong nokma donganoa. The
strongest one who lives there is
headman Arong, it is said.
bylbang n ART tie beam,
horizontal beam that runs over
several manjuri and forms the base
beam of the triangle of the roof
bylet n ART razor blade
-bylok evsp V to a pulp subylok- to
beat to a pulp, to mash
bylong- vintr to be too much Naa
bylongdugaai thelnabyi. Dont
tie it too hard. Bylongok! Its too
much!
bylongen adv very
bylongok interj (derogatory) So
stupid! Unbelievable! Bylongokte
nangdo angaw taksakchagado.
You are so stupid if you dont help
me.
bylsi tw year bylsi thinian every
year Bylsi chykhywdyrang
dongphinokno. Nine years have
passed, it is said. Ang kholachi
bylsi dongok. I am thirty years
old.
bylu n QUAL blue
byryi num four
byrym n ART inside rafter: beam
that runs along the ridge board on
the bottom of the roof on the
inside of the roof and has the
kenchi rafter as its counterpart;
together they form part of the
support structure of the roof of a
house
byrymbyrym adj2 multi-coloured
byryp adj2 lying on his belly
Byrypai juwbo. Lie down on your
belly.
byt- v to pull, to drag, to drive, to
ride, to transport, to lead, to haul,
to draw, to shock (electricity) Naa
gari bytna sapama? Do you know
how to drive (a vehicle)? Odek
ang khaw bytai thetok. The baby
pulled my hair and pulled it out.
Mai bytwamyngdo pungchina
songchina khairata. We carry the
rice harvest down to the granary,
to the village.
bytai- vtr to lead here, to bring here
(by driving)
bytchirit- vtr to draw a line
bytganggang- v to drive a vehicle
over a bumpy road
bythyi n ANIM porcupine
bythyn n GEO shade Ichi mubo.
Ichi bythyn galok. Sit here. The
shade is here. (literally: The shade
has fallen here.)
bythyw- v to block, to be blocked
Wasung/paip bythywok. The
wasung/water pipe is blocked. to
close the wasung or such
containers with raichak so that
the vapour cannot come out
bytjekjek- v to give short jerks, to
draw or write scratchily
bytjengjeng- v to pull jerkily
bytphin- v to rewind
bytphuruk- v to tear out with the
roots Getheng waaw
bytphurukwa. He tore out the
bamboo, roots and all.
bytruru- v to drag something
bytsek- vtr to take away a person,
to steal a person gawi bytsekgaba
a person who steals somebody
elses girlfriend
bytsorok- vtr to pull out
bytwa ~ bytwami ~ bytwamyng n
ACT harvest
bytwami n ACT tug-of-war
bytym n ACT a good smell
29
bytym n CORP/FOOD fat (of

human or animal), grease
bytym- vintr to smell nice
Palengma bytyma. The flower of
the palengma smells nice.
bywsa- v to dance
C
cha n FOOD tea
=cha encl no, not Udo tyihungna
sapcha. He does not know how to
swim. Anga Ketketa Bura
nogabaawan tyngkhucha. I dont
know this so-called Ketketa Bura
yet. Khasidarangdo noksamchi
simen, tota, tin pirinai hama.
Nokkhungchi? Nokkhungcha!
Noksamchi. For the wall of a
house, the Khasis mix cement,
planks and metal plates. For the
roof? Not the roof! For the
wall. Ang nangaw balchawa. I
will not tell about you. Phywra
sywaimungna garu susetchaai
dywetoknoai. Having pounded rice
powder, she added the mustard
leaves without washing them,
really! Kharekma ie?
Kharekancha, saman. Is this a
string-bean plant? Its not a
string-bean plant, its weeds.
cha n BODY leg, foot cha
kantara barefoot
chabykung n BODY instep
chachak n PLANT tea leaf
chachok n BODY sole of the foot
chachoron- ~ chochoron- vintr to
squat Hap sakancha chachoronai
mubo. Because there is not good
place to sit, squat.
chadok ~ chatok n BODY heel
chaduk- v to bump Ang nangsang
rerengwachi, ram manakaimu
panchi/panaw chadukok. When I
went to your place, because the
road was dark, I bumped into a
tree.
chadyl n BODY/PLANT root, vein
chadylmorong n PLANT main
root of a tree
chadylsaphek n PLANT small
root
chagang n PLANT bad rice that is
thrown away in the husking
process
chagyl n ACT footstep
Nokhapalchi chagyl
kyryngaidonga. Footsteps are
making noise outside.
chagywgyw- vintr to kneel down
chakereng n BODY shinbone,
shin
chakhawak ~ chakhok n BODY
hollow side of the knee
chakhok ~ chakhawak n BODY
hollow side of the knee
chakhop ~ jakhop n ART shoe
chakok n PLACE hollow between
the roots of a tree Kynsangdo thik
ue napite phep chakoknyng .sang
galatwa. Later the barber fell
exactly into a hollow between the
roots of the banyan tree.
chakyw ~ chaku n BODY knee,
length from the knee to the foot
Uchie Thengthon khudalsang
haaw sawaidongano.
Sawaidongano, thywangaidokno,
chakyw chyigykdarangdo. Then
Thengthon is digging in the
ground with a chopper, it is said.
He is digging and he is getting
deep, it is said, about four metres
deep.
chama n PLACE lower side,
downstream, bottom, below
30
chaman n ACT footprint

chamuk n BODY medial
malleolus
chamyn n BODY leg hair
chapa n BODY sole of the foot
chapakithyk n BODY heel
chapathai n BODY calf
chapha clf a foot chaphatham
three feet
chaphak n BODY groin
chapheret n CORP crack in the
callous skin of the heel
chaphong ~ chaphung n BODY
thigh
chaphung n BODY upper leg
chapungdym n BODY hip
chari n PLANT seed for planting
chasi n BODY toe
chasitokkyreng n CORP eczema
between the toes
chasijywbydyi n BODY big toe
chasu rongaimu mua v to sit
with your legs stretched out
chasyrong- v to stretch your leg
chatok ~ chadok n BODY heel
chawek n ART broom to sweep
outside the house
chawek n PLANT chaff
chawekdam n PLACE place
where the chaff is thrown after
winnowing the rice
chabak- vintr to fall (of water in a
waterfall)
chabi n ART key
chacha adv exactly, appropriately
chachak n PLANT tea leaf
chachakphang ~ chaphang n
PLANT teaplant chachakphang
kai- to plant a teaplant
chachek n ART tea strainer
chachura n BODY hair on top of
the head
chagak n BODY palate
chagak- v to hit, to crash Uchi,
pherudo panchi chagakai
thyiokno. Then the fox hit a tree
and died, it is said.
chagodot- v to stumble Gandichi
chagodotwa. I stumbled over a
log.
chai- v to look (at), to watch Tedo
biphagaba Naweng aina
chaiaimyng tangabasang
biphagaba kamyn rokaimyng aina
tanmangabaaw kynaimyng
biphagaba niwachi chaiai
chyichie phalthangaw
nukwanoaro. Now when she
picked up the mirror which her
husband had put down after
looking into it to shave his beard,
she saw herself, it is said. Angba
piktjyr chaina. I also want to see
the photos. Ang nangaw
chaikhuni. I will take revenge on
you.
chaikhaw- v to spy (on), to peep
chaira n ACT a traditional song
chairura- vintr to look around you
chairuru- v to look around
chaisi- vtr to hate, to be annoyed by
the looks of something
chaithawa- adj1 to be beautiful
chaithum- v to guard, to watch over
chaitunggaba n PERS watchman
chak chok n khjyksai/n BODY
hand Tykywtokreng chak chok
dangchagabachi mai
rymetaidongano. She is cooking
rice in a water pot of which the
neck is so narrow that you cannot
stick your hand in it.
31
chak clf classifier for leaves

panchak chaksa one tree leaf
chak n BODY arm, hand
-chak n PLANT leaf
chak- v to ignite wal chak- to make
fire Walthum chakbo. Light the
walthum!
chaka n ART wheel
chakchuk n BODY elbow
chakgydok n BODY wrist
chakgytok n BODY underarm
chakkhawak n BODY hollow part
of the elbow, elbow pit
chakkhop n ART glove
chakol n PERS servant
chakpha n BODY palm of the hand
chakphakhung n BODY back of
the hand
chakphong ~ chakphung n BODY
arm, upper arm
chaksi n BODY finger chaksi
goibanga five fingers
chaksigysep n BODY space in
between the fingers
chaksijotram n BODY index finger
chaksijywbydyi n BODY thumb
chaksikhol n BODY fingernail
chaksikhum n BODY back of the
hand
chaksirengma n BODY little finger
chaksiweng n BODY knuckles
chaksyrong- v to stretch your arm
chakwak clf classifier for handfuls
rong chakwakchitsa eleven
handfuls of stones
chal- v to plant or sow by making a
hole in the ground with a stick and
putting the seed into the hole. Ha
khynmanwamungsa maisi khita.
Umung abongdarang chala,
dachangdarang chala. Only after
collecting the unburnt remains of
the jungle from the land, we sow
millet. Then we plant maize and
we plant sorrel.
chal- v to support
chalak adj2 cunning, clever Song
damsachi Thengthon mynggaba
morot myngsa ganangno. Ue
bylongen chalakno. In a village
lived a man called Thengthon, it is
said. He was very cunning, it is
said. Chalak morotaimyng udo
teewchinaan khengaidongano.
Because he is a cunning man, he is
now still alive, it is said.
chalgaba n ART a support
chamai ~ chame n KIN/PERS (1)
marriageable female cousin, (2)
the relation of female cousins from
intermarriageable families, (3) the
relation of the parents of a married
couple, (4) girlfriend, lover,
sweetheart
chamchia n PLANT species of tree
chame ~ chamai n KIN/PERS see
chamai
chamethangmaran ~
chamaithangmaran n KIN a
couple of marriageable crosscousins, a boy and girl who can
marry
chanchi- vB to think (about/of) Ie
people, it is said. Bandiaw watetna
chanchiaidokno. He thought about
sending Bandi, it is said. Jesang
ang reengchiba, mancha
nangaw awana. chanchia ang
nangawrarasa. (Aristo J Momin)
32
Wherever I go, I cannot forget

you, I think only of you.
chanchichyp- v to suppose Morot
chanchichypai thik dongokodo,
uchian rajaan uaw ajot
nosawnaka. Suppose someone gets
it right, then the king will tell him
ajot.
chanchok- v to lean on
chanchora ~ chanchura n ANIM
sparrow
chanet- v to put on the fire
-chang bound multiplied by, times.
This morpheme is only used in
compound numerals with khol
twenty. It can be seen as a bound
morpheme and written together
with khol in numerals, viz.
khokchang byryi rong sa eighty
one.
-chang evsp V suddenly, to stop Ving, Rongbangamyng chinthai
rongni raaimyng songreangte
songreangte. Kynsangdo
jywchangna nangokno. Having
gotten two melons for five rupees,
he journeyed and journeyed. Later,
he suddenly had to sleep, it is said.
watanchanga to cut the bamboo
to stop it growing taller
chang interr who?
changai n GEO the moon
changkhet v to be stuck
changkhui nagap ~ changkhui
kaldap n ART type of big knife
with a wavy blade
changkui ~ chengkui ~ chawkyi
~ chawki n ART big knife with a
curled blade used in the kitchen to
prepare food as well as in the field
to cut plants and weeds
changkui katri n ART type of big
knife with blade that has a rounded
hook at the end
changba prof somebody, someone
changchon n BODY waist
changgaba prof whoever
Changgaba manai saa
changgaba nokdang takga, umi
bimyng gumukawan thalai
myngaimusa, wai khurutaimu,
saai ryngaimu, nemkhalchiba
nemkhalchachiba ue morotnado
dykdyksa chaisakni. Whoever is
rich, whoever is wealthy, having
called all their names clearly,
having performed the incantation
of the spirit, having eaten and
drunk, the person has to wait for a
short while to see whether or not
he has got better.
chanpat- v to build a bamboo
bridge
chanpheng- vgoal to defend Ang
hasongna chanphengni. I will
defend my country.
chaphang ~ chachakphang n
PLANT teaplant chaphang kai- to
plant a teaplant
-chap evsp V along with, V to
Nokbanthaidyrangaw sawaimung
nokbanthai dokhakhuchi
khachapai tangaba mongmawa
dorabyryi donggabaaw raai
jalangokno. Having burnt the
bachelors houses, they took the
20 KG weighing elephant tusks
which were tied to the dokhakhu
and ran away, it is said.
chap- v to stand (be in standing
position)
chapchap adv close together (as in
a crowd)
chara n PERS mothers brothers,
the chara come together when
important decisions concerning the
family have to be made
chara n PLANT sapling
33
charamong n PERS mothers eldest

brother
charanga num fifteen
chasong n ABSTR generation, era
Dakang achu ambi chasongchido
balphakramaw myngsynga. Tee
chasongsa balphakramaw
myngsynganchak aro
memangsong donganchakno. In
the era/generation of our ancestors
Balphakram was well known. This
era/generation does not know
Balphakram well anymore and it is
no longer the land of the ghosts, it
is said.
chat- adj1 thick (of substances and
things), bulky
chat- v to be fixed together (like a
stapled pile of paper or a pile of
wood etc.)
chat- v to promise Ang una sot
bonga hynna chatwa. I promised
to give him fifty rupees.
chatgyk num eight
chaw- v to go by boat, to row Rung
chawchiba rung bytrongrenga.
When you row the boat, the boat
spins.
chaw ideo splash! the sound of
something plunging into the water
Ytykyimyng magachakdo biskutaw
tyisamchi tanaimyng chaw!
thorokangokno. So then, having
put the biscuits by the side of the
water, the deer splash! jumped into
the water, it is said.
chaw- v to winnow Awanchi mai
chawa. Rice is winnowed in a
winnowing basket.
chaw- v to float, to drown
Ytykyimung gorialdo phalhangaw
tyichi thyiwatakai chawratai
thyiratadoknochym. Uchiba thik
pheruan nuktatheriokno. Hare!
Phangnan dakang ang nukgaba
gorialdo chawsa
chawtawwachym. Ie gorialdo
khengna nanga ido. So, the
crocodile was floating down the
river, pretending to be dead. Then,
suddenly, the fox saw him.
Huh?! I have never before seen
a crocodile that floated upstream.
This crocodile has to be alive. Ie
morot tyi hungna sapchaaimu tyi
chawwa. Because this person did
not know how to swim, he
drowned.
chawki ~ chawkyi ~ chengkui ~
changkui n ART big knife with a
chawarai- v to heat meat on a
frying pan without salt or water in
order to preserve it
cheet n ANIM species of green
cricket
chebe n ANIM species of bird
chegydek chegydek ideo call of the
dawchegydek
chek- ~ chyk- adj1 cold Aiaw!
Angdo chykaidonga. Atakwa?
Teewmangmangsa tyiruwa
naa. Jeez, Im cold. What
did you do? I just took a bath,
man!
chek n ART net, fishing net
chek num ten Rongchek hynbo.
Give me ten rupees Mityrchek
howwa. I jumped ten metres.
-chekchek evsp V repeatedly
Ytykimyng bengblokmyngdo
sangumuk pywdyngdyngaimyng
mongmamyng mykyranaw
sywchekchekai muokno mangni.
So then, the two of them, the
banana-sucking bird and the toad,
34
had been fighting the whole day,

and had kept repeatedly picking at
the elephants eyes.
cheke n ART sieve chachek tea
sieve
chekjyrym- v to be coolish
chekkyryi n TIME cold season
cheknai dtw the day after tomorrow
chel n BODY bosom of a man
chelbak n BODY chest
chelku n BODY rib cage
chem- v to melt away, to burn up
Pan walchi chemok. The wood
burned up in the fire. Choklet
khuchukchi chemok. The sweet
melted away in my mouth.
chen n ART chain, zip fastener,
zipper, zip
-cheng evsp V first Chang
tyrywchengnaka? Who will take a
bath first?
cheng- adj1 light
chengkhu ~ chengkhyw n
PLANT ginger
chengchangbengchang n ACT
noise, racket
chengcheng n PLANT tamarind
chengchengmachok n ANIM
spider with a long stomach with
yellow stripes which can be fried
and eaten
chenggang- v to be upright, to be
erect Chosa rypaimyng
jarawachian mynan chenggang
takariano pherumi myndo. He
stayed a bit in the water and after a
long time, his fur was still upright,
the foxs fur.
chengkhana n ANIM gills
chengkhyna n BODY jaw
chengkhyw ~ chengkhu n PLANT
ginger
chengkui ~ chawki ~ chawkyi ~
changkui n ART big knife with a
chep- ~ chip- ~ chyp- v to be
imprisoned, to be caught
(Thengthone):Nangtym angaw
wetsado khema khakhubo. Yhy!
Khema manchak noaimyng
koksep wataimyng koksepchi
chypangokno. Please forgive me
one more time, (said Thengthon).
No! You cannot get anymore
forgiveness, they said and they
made a big bamboo basket and
imprisoned him in it, it is said.
Uchie Nepale: Ytykchido ang
reengsigama nangmyng phal?
nowano. Ma ytykchido
dongarini, ang chakdyrangaw
dengbo nooknoro. Khaakno,
Thengthonawdo. Ytykyimyng
chepgaba dengaimyng getheng
hongkhotokno. Then the Nepali
said: So then I will go instead of
you? it is said. Very well, in that
case, its all right. Untie my
hands, he said, it is said. He
untied Thengthon. So then, having
untied the prisoner, the prisoner
came out, it is said. Breketmyng
nyngchi chipgaba katha pangai
gamchatcha. The words in
brackets are not very important.
chep- ~ chyp- v to close Ue
Hadura waie songchi morot
thyinaakodo rongkhalmi nokapaw
chepchangano. Ue nokap
chepachian songgumukmi
morotdyrangan naano. As for that
spirit of Hadura, when a person
had died, the door of the cave
would suddenly close, it is said.
When that door is closed, the
people in the village hear it, it is
35
said. Khasinai chypangsa dawang

takaidonga. She is slowly closing
and opening her eyes. (Gostar R
Sangma)
-chep evsp V alone
chep- v to milk Masudut
cheparong. Shes milking cows
milk.
chep- v to release contained air or
water, to leak Robol balwa
chapok. The football has
deflated./The football has leaked
air. Maityk tyi chepaidok. The
rice-cooking pot is leaking water.
chepchap chepchap ~ chepchep
chepchap ideo squeak! the sound
a mouse makes Muchot chepchep
chepchap parawa. A mouse says
squeak! squeak! squeak!
Abeknyngchi muchotsagyrai
mangbyryi chepchap chepchap
parawthokaidonga. Inside the
abek are four baby mice squeaking
squeak! squeak!
chepgaba n PERS prisoner
cherym- ~ chyrym- adj1 heavy
chet- v to tear, to tear off (clothes
paper etc.)
chetpyrak- v to tear apart
chewkhyi n ART big knife
chi num ten. This word is only used
in compound numerals chibyri
fourteen.
=chi encl locative enclitic Nokchi
ang dyngdang muchiba,
sungmaneta anga nangna. (Aristo J
Momin). Whenever Im sitting at
home alone, I think of you. Sanchi
reengni. We will go during the
day. Walchi reengchawa. We
will not go at night.
chibri num fourteen
chichat num eighteen
chidok num sixteen
chini num twelve
chisykhu num nineteen
chisyni num seventeen
chitham num thirteen
chiakhol n PLACE a well, a source
-chichi evsp to V into pieces
Gadakchichiaimuna
thypsetthiriokno. Ytykmachiba
uba sagyraiba jumu
khathirithirioknotyi. They cut him
up into pieces and threw him away
again, it is said. But that child
joined together again and again, it
is said, to our surprise.
chichot n PLANT small inedible
jackfruit
chichu- v to blister
chichugaba n CORP a blister
Chidymak n PLACE Stream on the
way to Balphakram. When the
spirit of a dead person takes his
bath in that river, he forgets
everything about his life. This
stream is also called Tyihanggal or
Tyitykmak.
chigi n PLANT species of plant
chigyryng n ART traditional snare
instrument
-chik ~ -chyk evsp V as long as you
can Ytykyimyng jaraw jaraw
getheng sokwa dabatdo
sakchikaidongano pheruba. So
then, for a long time, until he did
not hold out any longer, he was
holding out as long as he could, it
is said, the fox.
chikarak- v to joke
-chikchak evsp V in a crowd,
swarming Bandi nomkhalwachido
napat sywchikchakwatykyi
chikchak wekwak
taksigaaidongano utymba. When
36
Bandi was tired, the whole crowd

beat him like napat (type of fish)
swarming around bait.
chikchak wekwak adv swarming
around something like fish around
bait, see -chikchak
chin n ACT a sign
chinthai n PLANT melon
chinara n PLANT lemon
ching clf classifier for bamboo
shoots maiwa ~ maiwa chingsa
one bamboo shoot
chingpheng adj2 aslant, slant Nok
bydyiaimu chingpengok. The
house, having become old, is
aslant.
chingchongphyrot ~
chomchomphyrot n PLANT
species of white edible mushroom
chingchoroi- v to swing from
something
chini n FOOD sugar
chinik n CORP dirt on the body
chinkak n PLANT species of plant
chip- ~ chep- ~ chyp- v to be
imprisoned, to be caught. See
chep.
chipchip ideo chirp! the call of a
bird
chirokhana n PLACE zoo
chisat- v to vomit, to throw up, to
barf
chisol n ART a cross
chitsa num eleven
chit- v to tear, rip
chithong- v to tear cloths to shreds
chiti n ART letter
chiwal- v to trade, to deal in, to do
business in
chochep- v to be crumpled Wetsa
reengrawrawwachian dobachi
amakba gasorotaimu bunduk
baithongsyrangokno. Bonduk
baithongaimu kokchengba
chochepokno nemanchakno. Once
when they went a little further, the
monkey slipped and fell in the
mud and broke the gun in pieces, it
is said. The gun was broken and
the kokcheng was crumpled and
not good anymore, it is said.
chomot ~ chongmot adv/evsp
actually, really Anga Ketketa
Bura dongcha. Ketketa Bura
kanjota, anga mela chaibataw
noaimyng, pheruna Ketketa Bura
balwano. Ytykchiba pherue:
Nangan chomot Ketketa Bura
nookno. Im not Ketketa Bura.
Ketketa Bura is thin, I look much
fatter, said Ketketa Bura to the
fox, it is said. But the fox said:
You are really Ketketa Bura, it
is said.
chosa ~ choisa adv a little bit
chogop- v fully bent but not
touching the ground (used only
with plants) Rek chogopok. The
banana tree is bent.
chogyp- v to break off and fall
down (for branches and big
leaves) Balwana narykhelchak
chogypok. Because of the wind the
branch of the coconut tree has
broken off and fallen down.
choietja n TIME (archaic) March
choisa ~ chosa adv a little bit
chok clf classifier for bunches or
small heaps jaryt choksa one
small heap of chillies rasunok
choksa one bundle of spring
onions
chok- v to scoop, serve up, dish up,
dish out, to comb khaw chok- to
comb ones hair. Mai chokbo.
Take some rice.
37
choka- v to take apart, to

disassemble, to (be) torn, to cut off
Pen chokaak. The pen is
disassembled. Gore mangsa
gethengmi aluaw jamai saakno.
Una aludarangaw rydymabutung
sokaw sawamynggymyn teew
manap chaiwachido gumukan
chokarumokno. A horse had eaten
all his potatoes. Therefore, when
he looked in the morning, the
potatoes were all torn, because all
the sprouts were eaten while they
were sprouting, it is said.
chokchok- v to drip out Chak
rawkhalai suletkhubo nowano.
Choisa choisa rawkhalai
nowano. Choisa rawkhalai
nowano. Una jomaimu
sinthongwachie: Aiaw! Noaimu
jalangokno. Uchian manapchi
chaichido karydylsa thyi
chokchokai muaidongno, myntyi
chokchokai muaidongno. Jamok.
Stretch your arm a little longer,
she said. Still a bit longer, she
said. A bit longer, she said.
Then, surreptitiously he took his
sword and cut her arm in half.
Ouch! she said and run away.
Then, when they looked in the
morning, blood was dripping from
the hanging root, puss was
dripping from it. The end.
chokchok- v to sharpen (a pointy
object)
chokdeng n BODY throat
chokdeng n PLACE the end of a
pointy object
choket- v to scoop (for solid
substances)
chokhoi n ART fishing basket
made of bamboo
choki ~ chuki n ART chair
chokida n PERS warden
choklet n FOOD a sweet, chocolate
chokset- v to scoop away
chol clf classifier for ways, roads,
paths and rivers tyikhal cholni two
rivers ram choltham three roads,
paths sorok cholbyryi four roads
chol n ACT idea Nanangdo
myngsa cholawdo taknaka. We
will execute one idea.
chola n ART shirt
cholwat n PLACE a space
chom- v to stack, to pile up, to fuck
chom clf classifier for little piles of
fruit Narang chomni hynbone.
Give me two little piles of
oranges.
chong clf classifier for iron nails
khil chongni two iron nails
chong n ANIM insect, bug, lice
chongkhobok n CORP white
patches, vitiligo
-chongmot ~ - chomot evsp V
determinedly, V certainly, V
definitely San nidyrang
dongphinaidok, nang noksang
raianado
pachongmotchaaidokkhon
nookno. It has been two days and
maybe he really does not dare to
come to your house.
chongsu n ANIM caterpillar
chongchang n ART bird cage made
of bamboo
chongchyro- v to squat
chonnyk- v to look down on, to
mock, to scorn, to insult
Ytykyimyng kynsang phalthangaw
chonnykgabaaw naaimyng alsia
rajae: Na anga ytykyi cholie
cholisemchaaidok noaimyng
teewba jykmyng jalaidokno. So
then, later, having heard the ones
that looked down on him, the lazy
38
king said: Well, I certainly have

not succeeded at all and then he
ran away from his wives, it is said.
Uchie bydyi myngsa raiaakno.
Aia! Nangtyme atong
phalaidonga? noai syngokno.
Hathapyra hanggal noai
balokno. Uchie: Tainisa nukba
nukwa, angdo tainisa naba nawa
hathapyra hanggal
phalgabaawdo. Nangtyme
bobamorotkhonte. Bimyng
morotsa nangtyme? noaimyng
chonykangokno. Then an old man
came along. Huh?! What are you
selling? he asked. Ashes and
charcoal, they said. Then: I saw
that just now, I really did see it
just now, people selling ashes and
charcoal. You must be crazy
people! What kind of people are
you?! he said and scorned them.
chot- v to tear (off), to cut Sendel
chotok. My sandal is broken. Aia
thetnabai! Ang chak chotni! Ouch!
Dont pull! My arm will tear off!
Gandurian chotkhuchano ue
sagyraie. The child had not even
had its umbilical cord cut, it is
said.
chu- v to wrap into something
churet adv to hang down Phepchi
pheru ytykyi muaidonoaro.
Muwachie rido churet
takangokno chamasang
napitsang. The fox was sitting in
the banyan tree like this, it is said.
While he was sitting there, his
penis was hanging down, it is said,
toward the barber.
chusok- v to succeed Nangtyme
iawan phalthangthangna
hyngaawan kamtykyi
chusoketchachido nangtyme
atongtykyi phylgym kawna mana?
If you cannot succeed in the job
that I gave to you, how can you
shoot the eagle?
chuduk- ~ chyduk- v to turn upside
down, to turn over
chugup- v to be on its side Rung
chugup paitanbo. Turn the boat on
its side. Chugupai tanwa. I put it
on its side. Rung chugupok. The
boat is lying on its side.
chugup- v to cover with a lid
chui interj interjection to chase
away a pig
chuki ~ choki n ART chair
chuli- v to be useful Tangka
poisaba, kamba janggina chulia.
Money and wealth are useful in
life.
chultet- v to shake off
chun n BODY trump
chun n FOOD ground limestone
chung- adj1 big
chungai raicha expr I dont care
chunggalgal- v to grow up, to
become an adult Sa myngsa
baaimung, mandykarok.
Mandykasola hoong. ie
Jenkonparaba raiasyrangchak.
Welang welang
chunggalgalwasa ganakachym.
Jengkonparaba
raiakhuchakhon? After one
child has been born, it is difficult.
Difficult indeed, yes. This Jenkon
and those associated with him
never come anymore. He will
almost certainly be compelled to
grow up quickly.
chungtaw- v to grow
chungthai n BODY big bosom
Samsa mylthai samsa chungthai.
One big bosom, one small bosom.
39
chup ~ chyp adv fully dressed, with

all your clothes on, wearing
whatever it is you are wearing Ang
chyp tyruok. I took a bath with all
my clothes on. Ang chup
reengariok. I just went wearing
the clothes I was wearing at that
time.
churi n ART knife (Hindi )
churu n FOOD very little food
chutchut ideo squeak! the sound of
a mouse
chuwil chuwal adv spinning Thot
thyngthot takwachina dabat
sykromaimyng
khanetsigaaidongno. Bandi
chakwatwamian chuwil chuwal
takjolangokno. He (Bandi) grasped
her (Sore) and poured the liquor
into her mouth to the last drop.
When Bandi let go of her (Sore),
her head was spinning.
chuwyng chuwang adv with a
spinning head, dizzily
chybym n BODY forehead
chyduk- ~ chuduk- v to turn upside
down, to turn over
chygyl n ANIM species of worm
that glows in the dark
chygyp- v to fall face down on the
ground
chyhyl n ANIM species of snail
chyi- v to try Chaiai chyini
gorongnima gorongcha. Lets try
to meet him. (literally: We will try
by seeing if we will meet him or
not meet him.)
=chyi encl try to V Naa sikhal
khana raiachido, chuchu, ha ie
ang mola hynga rynganchyi
nookno. If you want to hunt,
grandson, here, try to smoke this
tobacco of mine that I will give
you, he said.
chyi- adj1 tired
chyigyk num ten
chyk- ~ chek- adj1 cold
-chyk ~ -chik evsp V as long as you
can Ytykyimyng jaraw jaraw
getheng sokwa dabatdo
sakchikaidongano pheruba. So
then, for a long time, until he did
not hold out any longer, he was
holding out as long as he could, it
is said, the fox.
chykyw num nine
=chym encl/prtcl irrealis enclitic or
particle Mura taisa ganangchym,
teew niwa. There was supposed
to be a small stool here, now its
gone. Ang taisa rajasa
lapokchym. Thyiok. I just made
one hundred [rupees] profit. I lost
the game. Ang ie khata dakangdo
tyngchachym. teewdo nemaian
tyngok. I did not know this word
before. Now I know it well.
Teewe biba song damsachie boba
myngsa ganangchymnoro. Now, in
a some village, supposedly
lives/lived a lazy king, it is said.
Abu, angdo dadaparaaw
sandiedongachym. Grandma, I am
searching in vain for my elder
brothers. Biskut dyngthang
ramachym. You could have
searched for other biscuits. Ang
nangaw bylongen nukna
sykaidongachym. ang phalthang
reengnado sykaidokchym,
ytykchiba anga sawamigymyn
reengna manchaaidonga. I really
want to see you, (but something
prevents me from doing this). I
would have liked to come myself
but because of me being ill, I am
not able to go. Hachyksang
balchido sal kolgryksa noai
myngnichym. When you say it in
40
Garo, it would be called sal

kolgryksa.
chym- v to chew Goiaw nemai
chymaimu dakbo. Chew the betel
nut well, then spit it out.
chymbuk n ART magnet
chympyret- v to hit with your fist,
to crash head-on
chyn- v to offer to the dead Ie taw
mama thyigabana chynkhuni. We
will offer this chicken to our dead
uncle.
chyndyk n ANIM domestic water
buffalo
chyng- adj1 bright
chyng- v to burn Ie pan nemai
chyngni. This wood will burn
well.
chyngchet- v to glitter
chyngaba n ACT offering to a dead
person
chyngmat n BODY comb of a
rooster
chyp- ~ chep- v to close Ue
Hadura waie songchi morot
thyinaakodo rongkhalmi nokapaw
chepchangano. Ue nokap
chepachian songgumukmi
morotdyrangan naano. As for that
spirit of Hadura, when a person
had died, the door of the cave
would suddenly close, it is said.
When that door is closes, the
people in the village hear it, it is
said. Khasinai chypangsa dawang
Sangma)
chyp- ~ chip- ~ chep- v to be
imprisoned, to be caught
(Thengthone):Nangtym angaw
wetsado khema khakhubo. Yhy!
Khema manchak noaimyng
koksep wataimyng koksepchi
chypangokno. Please forgive me
one more time, (said Thengthon).
No! You cannot get anymore
forgiveness, they said and they
made a big bamboo basket and
imprisoned him in it, it is said.
Uchie Nepale: Ytykchido ang
reengsigama nangmyng phal?
nowano. Ma ytykchido
dengbo nooknoro. Khaakno,
Thengthonawdo. Ytykyimyng
chepgaba dengaimyng getheng
hongkhotokno. Then the Nepali
said: So them I will go instead of
you? it is said. Very well, in that
case, its all right. Untie my
hands, he said, it is said. He
untied Thengthon. So then, having
untied the prisoner, the prisoner
came out, it is said. Breketmyng
nyngchi chipgaba katha pangai
chyp- ~ chip ~ chep v to imprison,
to lock up. See chep.
chyp ~ chup adv fully dressed, with
all your clothes on, wearing
whatever it is you are wearing Ang
chyp tyruok. I took a bath with all
my clothes on. Ang chup
reengariok. I just went wearing
the clothes I was wearing at that
time.
-chyp evsp V wastefully, V
unsuccessfully, V completely,
imaginary Teew una rangsando
saniarokno. Sikharba
khachypanchakno. Ytykthyngai
somai jamchypaimuna, jyksang
sasang waiangokno. Now the sun
was setting. It was too late to hunt.
With all this stuff going on, he had
waisted his time and he returned to
his wife and children, it is said.
41
chyp- v to close Teewchinaan ue

waimi bimungsang songawba Siju
Duramong noai teewchinaan
myngairongkhua. Ytykyimung ue
rongkhal teewdo chypok. Now
still, the village is called Siju
Duramong after the spirits name,
still today. But the cave is closed
now.
chyrym- ~ cherym- adj1 heavy
chyryt chyryt ideo squirt, squirt!
chys interj interjection of
disapproval
chyw n FOOD rice beer, rice wine
alcohol, wine, liquor chyw chek- to
scoop the chyw out of the gora
with an abek
chyw- adj1 high, steep hakha
chywa the mountain slope is steep
chyw n PLANT the new young
leaves of a tree
chywbok n FOOD white alcoholic
liquid made from fermented rice,
white rice beer, white rice wine
chywgundai n PLANT species of
plant
chywgyn n ACT the festival of the
dead at which the soul of a dead
person is sent out of the house to
rest in peace. The festival is held
around the end of February or the
beginning of March. During
chywgyn people indulge in
different activities such as chyw
rynga to drink liquor, khata
juwkyna to tell stories, chaira
rynga to sing songs and Waljan
byta to tell the love story about
Waljan.
chywgyn- v to celebrate the festival
of the dead Habykungaw morot
takaimuba kangkelekaw sootaimu
chigyryngsang dymchyrangsang
dakangmi achu ambitykyi
dythyichengai takaimu uan
memang sawetokno,
chywgynokno. Having made a
person out of sand and killed a
lizard, making a sacrifice and then
burning the ghost, they celebrated
chywgyn just like their ancestors,
it is said.
D
darat- v to fall down (for persons)
danang interj wow!
daba n PLANT coconut
dabat postp since, from, until
(indicating a limit in time)
Ytykchiba naa angna aro
angmyng jykna nang khengwa
dabat ang thyicha dabat angaw
muai sana hynbo nookno.
However, you have to keep
giving me and my wife food as
long as you live until I die, he
said, it is said. umyng ~ umi dabat
since that time, from that time
onward uchina dabat until then,
until that time Tainimyng dabat
nangmyngan baju takchaka. As
from today I will not be your
friend anymore.
dabogos n ART skewer
dachang ~ datchang n PLANT
species of shrub of which the
leaves and flowers are cooked and
eaten.
dada n KIN elder brother. This
word is also used to speak about or
address a related older male
relative of your own generation:
cousin, or to address an unrelated
man older than you.
dagi n CORP scar
dai- v to be bigger, greater daiaiok
over, finished
42
dai- v to wash away (as in a

landslide) Rang wawana, ha
nomaimu habyri daiok. Because
of the rain the ground had become
soft and therefore the mountain
washed away. ha daiok there has
been a landslide
daijol- v to overstay
dainingrum n PLACE dining room
dairamphin- v to work overtime
dairukruk- v become more and
more
dak n CORP freckle
dak n CORP phlegm from the lungs
dak- v to spit
dakal ~ takal n SUPER witch,
demon
dakan- v to dress someone else
dakang adv previously Ie hapaw
atong myngnaka noai, Gandrung
songchamchi ramai chyichie
dakang mynggaba Songma
Songgni Khychu Badri nogaba,
bimungsang, khata jyksaisang,
Badri myngnaka noai,
Gandrungawsa Badri
myngchengwano. What shall we
call this place? they said and
when trying to search in the old
village of Gandrung, which was
the previously so called Songma
Songgni Khychu Badri, that was
its name, with two words with the
same meaning, and they called it
Badri, and so Gandrung was first
called Badri, it is said.
dakang dtw past, in the past,
before, earlier Dakangdo, mamung
khem niwachido
dymchyrangsangsa chywgyn
ryngwano. In the past, when there
were no drums, they celebrated the
festival of the dead only with the
dymchyrang, it is said. Gam
manni udo uan, tangka poisa.
Uan gam mynga, dakangmi
chasongdo. Teewsa kepasyti noai
myngaidonga. Chasongna kri gam
myngariaro, tangka poisa. He will
obtain wealth, money. Earlier
generations called that wealth.
Now they call it capacity.
According to my generation this
money is called wealth.
dakang postp ago, before Bylsi
sana dakang jyk khymok
gethengdo. He got married one
year ago. Nangtymmi
nanggabaaw nangtymmi
piaidongabaaw, nangna
dakangan phetangok, nangna
dakangan udo reengsawok. That
which you needed, that which you
were asking for, had arrived before
you and it has certainly left before
you. Sana dakang chaksua.
Before eating I wash my hands.
dakanggaba adj1 first Uchi
thymaimyng, dakanggaba bobaan
dirichengokno. Then, having lain
in ambush, the first crazy person
got hold of (the horses tail) first,
it is said.
dakanggaba adv first, the first time
Dakanggabado jineral
mitingchengni. Umungsa song
gumuk thomaimung haba haryn
harynaw sowalni. First they will
start with a general meeting. Then
the whole village comes together
and they will divide the haba plot
by plot. Dakanggaba Turachi
muwachi Mobbinaw gorongwa.
The first time I stayed in Tura I
met Mobbin.
daket tak- v to rob Teewrawraw
morot nemchabatsyranggaba. Ie
chasongan nemchabatsyranggaba.
Morot tanchiba patok tancha.
43
Sakhawchiba dak takchiba patok

tancha. The people of nowadays
are the worst. This generation is
the worst. When someone kills a
man, he is not put in jail. When
someone steals and robs, he is not
put in jail.
dakham n ART very small wooden
stool consisting of one rectangular
wooden board to sit on and two
small rectangular wood blocks
attached underneath as supports
dakmanda n ART long womens
dress tied around the waist, skirt
dala n ART round bamboo mat
made of watyng for drying papol
or chillies in the sun, also called
damplak
dala n PLANT branch of a tree not
directly attached to the trunk,
young plant dalasa one branch
dala pheksa one branch
dalchini n PLANT species of tree
daldi n PERS beloved person, love,
darling
dalibibi n ART doll dalibibi goisa
one doll
dalim n PLANT pomegranate
dalni tatdepgaba n ART ramp of a
door
dam ~ dym ideo bam! Thud! the
sound of something heavy hitting
the ground Ytykyimuna
tokkyrengaw manaimunga
hachina wuuuuuuuk dym!
takramphinoknotyi phylgym
galwaan. So then, having got him
in the neck, the giant eagle fell to
the ground wooooosh bam!
-dam bound PLACE place
jaboldam rubbish heap
chawekdam place where the chaff
is thrown
dam clf classifier for villages Song
damsachi alsia raja myngsa
ganangchym. In a certain village
there was supposedly a lazy king.
-dam evsp V truly, really Khurutna
sapgaba morotawsa
songgumukchiba songchi
pangramaria. Udo pangaido
sapdamcha. Myngsa myngni
ytykyi sapa. There are just so
many people in the village who
know how to perform an
incantation. Many of them really
dont have the skill. Only one or
know how to do it.
dam n ABSTR price Ie masugari
dame biskyn? What is the price of
this bullock cart?
dam n ART bamboo mat
dama n art drum Raja! Nang
damaw chosa ie ang baisigathang
pheru tamnano noai
takaidongano. Ytykyimyng
kantaraaw Tambono
tambono noai tanangarioknoe
magachakdo. Ytykyimyng tamai
chaichie tedo byirakhem
hongkhotruruaimu kaksyrangokno
pheruawdo. Nomangaidokno udo.
Ytykyimyng jalangthiriokno
magachakdo. O King, can my
friend the fox play a bit on your
drum? he pretended to say, it is
said. Go ahead and play, go
ahead and play! the deer
pretended that the king said, it is
said. So then, when he tried to
play it, the bees all came out and
bit the fox all over, it is said. The
fox became weak, it is said. So
then the deer ran away again, it is
said.
-damdam evsp V in different
places, V one after the other, V
continuously
44
damdyl n ART bamboo mat that is

used as the side of a house damdyl
khapsa one damdyl. wada damdyl
sawa. a damdyl is made from
wada. damdyl watna to wicker a
damdyl
damplak n ART round bamboo
mat, also called dala, made of
watyng for drying papol or
chillies in the sun
damthol n ART a rolled up mat
dan- v to spread out, to lay out
(mats etc.) Naaw khantongai
danwa. She laid the fish down and
cut it in pieces. Palongchi kombol
danbo. Spread a blanket over the
bed. (when preparing it to go to
sleep). Kombol palongchi danbo.
Spread the blanket out over the
bed.
dandan- v to be pressed with your
back against something, to lean
against something Dandanai
mubo. Sit with your back against
the wall (or any other supporting
object). Panchi dandanaidonga.
Hes leaning against a tree.
dang- v to enter, to go/come in
Ytykyisa ue Arong nokma
thyiwamisa saepe bondyk paiaimu
sipaidyrang dangna manokno.
Sipaidyrang dangwachie kantyra
gulinyi kawphetphetai
raiaaknokhon. Uchian songchi
dangok. Thats why, after
headman Arongs death, the guncarrying sahibs were able to come
in, it is said. When the sahibs
entered, they might only have fired
without bullets. Then they entered
the village, it is said. Sansado ue
harataimyng hajambutungchi
umyng khuchuksang sotmai
dumna dangthokokno. One day,
while he was yawning, a swarm of
flies entered his mouth. Noksang
byk dangjolai jalangoknoai. He
quickly ran into the house. Uchie
pagongmachi sa gataimu uchie
dangangoknoro
gethengdo.Ytykyimu tyinyngsang
dangangokno Then, having put
the children on his shoulders, he
went in, it is said. So then he
entered the water, it is said. Ma
baba, atykyimu walawa? nookno
amakaw, amakmi sadyrange.
Niwa. Ue nang awangpara
nokchi dangphakawa naa"
noatakokno. But daddy, why are
you so late? It is already night,
the monkeys children said.
Dont worry. I visited your
uncle he said, it is said.
Reenwachian rangsan dangaimu
walokno. When he left, after the
sun had set, it was night, it is said.
dang- vphase to enter into a mental
state, to start Anga nangaw
nukjyryngaria uchian anga
nangaw nukjyryngwachian
nangna khagalwa dangok. I just
saw you every day, then, when I
saw you every day, I started loving
you.
dangkhym- ~ dangthym- v to
collapse (of a road or bridge), to
go into a hole
danyl n ART shield
dap- ~ dep- v to be on top, to press,
keep together by force, pinch
together, to pinch, to crush, to
stack
-dap evsp V on top, V more, V and
add, also, as well Nanang garu
ramtananggachi phylgym
dietdapai tanangwa. An eagle
shat on the mustard leaves that we
had left outside to dry Ue
myngtham myngbyryigaba
45
pidapokno. Ytykyimung
bytangdapaimyng, tedo
myngseneawan. Ytykyimung
pherudo ue myngsenegabaan,
myngsene sagyraiaw, kakai
saakno pherudo. He asked for
three or four more children. So
then, having led them away as
well, there were seven of them. So
then, the fox ate all seven of them,
he ate all the seven children, it is
said, the fox.
dapet adv insipid, not tasty Jabek
dapet dapet takaidong. The curry
is not tasty.
darai n ART sword
darang ~ dyrang n PERS people,
anyone
=darang ~ =dyrang encl (1) plural
(2) an approximate amount or time
Ytykyimu sadarangba panganoa.
So then, there were many children,
it is said. Maiawdo pangai sacha
phorenmi morotdyrangdo. They
dont eat a lot of rice, foreign
people. Ang ie maidyrangaw
sachawa. I will not eat all that
rice. Imi
kilomityrkolgykdyrangtykyi rang
niwa.About twenty kilometre
from here, there is no rain. Angdo
maja 13 tarikchi chaphang phang
99 ang nok rygynchi kaiok. Te'ew
phang 150-darang sakkhunichym.
A few days ago, on the 13th, I
planted 99 tea plants behind my
house. Now I might fit another
150 or so more. Umungdo marsja
somaidarangchi sawa. So then,
around the time of the month of
March, we burn the land.
darangba prof anybody, anyone,
nobody, no one Ang songchi
darangba Atong khuchuk olna
mancha. In my country there is
nobody to talk Atong with.
dareng n PLACE edge
dari- v to commit adultery, to have
sex, to be a bad person, to behave
badly
daw- v to open, to peel Kelkhi
dawai tanaimu, dawkha nokmi
ruti sakhawokno. Because
somebody had left the window
open, a crow had stolen bread
from the house, it is said. Nokhap
dawbo! Open the door!
Khopphylak dawarok. Shes
peeling the skin of a fruit. Narykel
dawaidong. Hes peeling an
orange. Tawti dawbo. Peel the
egg. Khasinai chypangsa dawang
Sangma)
daw- n ANIM bird. This is the
bound form of the word taw
chicken, bird that appears in
names of birds.
dawblok n ANIM bulbul bird
dawbudok n ANIM species of bird
dawchegydek n ANIM species of
bird
dawgamdot n ANIM eagle
dawgep n ANIM duck
dawkha n ANIM black crow
dawkharasun n PLANT crow
onion, species of onion
dawkruhasym n ANIM green
pigeon
dawkumai n PLANT species of
tree
dawkyru n ANIM pigeon
dawmaitak n PLANT species of
tree
dawphaw ~ dopho n ANIM owl
dawphylgym n ANIM eagle
46
dawreng n ANIM bird of prey

dawrugu n ART species of bird of
prey
dawsik n ANIM parrot
dawel- v to be circular
de inter okay then, well
deet- ~ diit- ~ diet- v to shit, to
do number two Udo deetna
reengwa. He went for a shit.
deetset- ~ diitset- ~ dietset v to
pick your nose Nakhung
dietsetaronga. He is picking his
nose.
detheng ~ getheng ppron he/she,
third person singular pronoun
referring to animates
dethengtheng ~ gethengtheng
ppron they, third person plural
pronoun referring to animates
dekdek- v to shiver, to tremble
Dekdekai thyiok. He died
shivering.
dekoresyn n ART decoration
del- ~ dyl- v to sting (of a bee etc.)
delang ~ dylang n ART little house
for the spirit of a dead person built
close to the house where the dead
person is burnt to keep his remains
and ashes. The spirit of the
deceased will live in this little
house until it is burnt in the
ceremony called memang saweta
about one year after his death and
the spirit will go to Balphakram.
dem- v to fold
demdong- adj1 weak, soft
dempharai n ART lengthwise cut
long bamboo strip used in the
construction of a house
deng- v to untie Ang chakaw
dengbo. Untie my hands.
dengdyl ~ beraberi n ART an open
whickered type of bamboo mat
used as fence of the balcony or
veranda of a house
dengga n PLANT species of small
leafy green
denggu n ACT extortion,
naughtiness
dep- ~ -dap- v to be on top, to
press, keep together by force,
pinch together, to pinch, to crush,
to stack
di n CORP shit
dibut n ANIM dung beetle
dichongkhamai n BODY cloaca
dichongkhanthyi n BODY
pygostyle. The pygostyle is the
main component of the structure
colloquially known as Popes
nose, parsons nose or sultans
nose. This is the fleshy
protuberance visible at the
posterior end of a bird (most
commonly a chicken or turkey)
that has been dressed for cooking.
dichyrak- v to have diarrhoea
diit- ~ deet- ~ diet v to shit, to do
number two Udo deetna
reengwa. He went for a shit.
diitset- ~ dietset ~ deetset- v to
pick your nose Nakhung
dietsetaronga. He is picking his
nose.
dikhal n BODY/PLACE arse,
anus, bottom
dikyntyk n PLACE toilet
dimai n BODY tail
diphathai n BODY buttock
dipyru- v to have diarrhoea
dipyryw- v to shit your pants
disep n BODY arse crack
disepra n BODY arse crack
dithap n ART diaper Jywgaba
sagaraiaw dithap
47
phaetaidonga. The mother is

putting a diaper on the child.
dithap n MSRE half (of a volume)
Gylas dithapan phingancha. The
glass is not half full Gylas
dithaptharaan. only half a glass.
dithom n BODY gizzard. The
gizzard, also referred to as the
ventriculus, gastric mill, and
gigerium, is an organ in the
digestive tract found in birds,
reptiles, earthworms, some fish,
and other creatures. This
specialized stomach constructed of
thick, muscular walls often
contains swallowed sand or grit,
which helps in the mechanical
breakdown of food.
digi n GEO well, ditch
dikirin- vtr to tear (clothes, paper
etc.)
diksyneri n ART dictionary
dil n CORP body smell, body odor
Mongmadil manama. The body
smell of an elephant stinks.
dile n ACT delay
din n PLACE bedroom
dinggarai n ART fish trap
diphing- vtr to fill Gylaschi tyi
diphingbo. Fill the glass with
water. Gylas phingok, diphingna
manchaka. The glass is full; you
cannot fill it anymore.
diphu n CORP a fart
diphu- v to fart
dipot n ART teapot dipot thai ni
two teapots
diprin n PLANT species of
vegetable
diri- ~ dyri- v to hold
dirikhap- v to catch
diritat- v to hold firmly
disembyl n TIME December
disko n PLACE disco
distrik n PLACE district
disu- v to piss, to pass urine, to do
number one, to urinate
disudap- v to piss on top of
disutyi n CORP piss, urine
disutyitup n BODY urine bladder
=do ~ =odo encl Topic enclitic
Nang sabo. Angdo sachawa.
You eat. I will not eat. Turasang
reengchido angna tupi rabone. If
you go to Tura, buy me a hat. Hap
pidan ramna manokodo jytnaka?
After you have found a new place,
youll immediately move?
dode n ANIM peacock
dodenjok n GEO Big Dipper( star
sign), Ursa Major (constellation)
dodokhichong n PLANT species
of plant
dokhakhu n ART carved,
ornamented and colourfully
painted king post of the bachelors
house above the entrance in
between the tie beam (bylbang)
and the peak of the roof
dopho~ dawphaw n ANIM owl
doba n SUBST mud
doi- v to catch
doi- v to hold, to grasp
doi- v to scoop into a receptacle
dojanggre n ART a ladder with
only one axis
dok- v to take off (clothes), to
unplug, to take apart, to
disassemble, to unblock
dok- v to weave
dokhan n PLACE shop
dokra n ART bag
doksylok- v to be detached
dol n CORP wrinkles
48
dol n MSRE group dol ni two

groups
dolromrom- v to roll up
dolan n PLACE big building, big
house
dolong n ART bridge
dolrorom- vtr to roll up lekhaaw
dolrorombo. Roll up the paper.
dong- ~ dong- v to be enough, to
be sufficient, to be OK, to be
convenient, to have passed, to be
past (The Nepali says:) Ytykchido
ang reengsigama nangmi phal?
(Thengthon says:) Ma ytykchido
dengbo nooknoro. But shall I go
instead of you? Very well then,
in that case, it will be most
convenient, untie my hands, he
said, it is said. Aia! tangka
dongtawanchakthai angdo rong
chyigyksaan raariwa. Damn! To
my surprise the money is not
enough anymore, I only brought
ten rupees. Bylsi chykhywdyrang
dongphinokno. Nine years have
passed, it is said. No baji dongok.
Its past nine oclock.
dong- ~ dong- v to be Ue hape
Chigachak teew Kol India kolani
hapan dongwachymno. That place
Chigachak is now supposedly the
Coal India Colony place, it is said.
Mamung dongcha It doesnt
matter.
dong- v to arrive Ytykyimyng
raiakno raiakno , nokthangchina
dongokno. So then, he went and
went, it is said, and arrived at his
own house, it is said.
dongwa n ACT event
dongang- v to arrive
dora clf weight of 5 kg.
Nokbanthaidyrangaw sawaimung
nokbanthai dokhakhuchi
khachapai tangaba mongmawa
bachelors houses, they ran away
taking the four dora (20 kg)
weighing elephant tusks which
were tied to the king post of the
bachelors house, it is said.
dorai n PLANT species of
vegetable
dorma ~ dolma n ART salary
dosi n ACT blame Acha, naa
angmyng goreaw dosi hynok
nowano rangramyng rajado. So,
you blame my horse, said the
king of the sky, it is said.
dot clf classifier for cylindrical
objects like candles and bananas
and logs (but not for batteries) wa
dotsa one culm of bamboo kendel
dotsa one candle pan dotsa one
log
drakha n PLANT grape
dram n ART drum, barrel
-duga sfx excessive suffix, V too
much, too V
duk n ABSTR sorrow, sadness
dukhup- ~ dykhyp- vtr to dress
someone, to put clothes on
someone else
dukung n PLANT species of plant
dukung- vtr to dam, to make
circular a wall of stones in the
water in the river to trap fish.
Baisigathangmaran tyi
dukungokno. Nado
ramramanchakno. The friends
dammed the water. There was
plenty of fish.
dum- v to gather, to swarm
Hajambutungchi umyng
khuchuksang sotamai dumna
dangthokokno. When he was
49
yawning a swarm of flies entered

his mouth, it is said.
duma n PERS crowd
duma- v to gather (of people)
dumut- adj1 moulded
dumuta n PLANT species of edible
mushroom
dung- v to put something in
something
dung- v to climb Amakdo welang
welang pankhambaisang
dungkhatai jalangokno. Pherudo
pan dungna mancha. The
monkey quickly ran away,
climbing to the top of a tree. The
fox cannot climb trees. Bildo
teawba gore dungna
sapchanotyi. Bil does not know
how to ride a horse, it is said, to
our surprise.
dupliket n ART a fake
durrrmeme ideo : eeeeee! the
sound of a bleating goat The
pronunciation of this English word
in Atong orthography would be
eeeeee.
durymytdyl n PLANT species of
liana
dykdyk adv for a short while,
quickly
-dykdyk evsp about to V Ransan
songdykdykangaidok. The sun is
about to set.
dykha n FOOD wine drunk during
the chywgyn festival.
dykhep- vtr to make someone cry
Dykhijalang n SUPER the tree
that lies across the beginning of
the road to Balphakram and that
acts like a gate for the spirits of the
deceased. This tree is also called
Bandijalang.
dykhyp- ~ dukhup- vtr to dress
someone, to put clothes on
someone else
dykyl n PERS cannibal
dykyl n PERS Khasi person
(pejorative)
dykym n BODY/PLACE head,
upside, top dykym sa- to have
malaria
dykymphak n PLACE side where
the head is, space above the head
Dokra dykymphakchi syithaiwa.
The bag hangs above your head.
dykyret- ~ dykyryi- vtr to threaten
dykyryng- v to make noise on
purpose
dyl- ~ del- v to sting (of a bee etc.)
dyl n PLANT root, vine
dyl- v to lead Songmongaw
dylgabae Dilbangkongdang
Umangchalmang mutynwano.The
leaders of Songmong were
Dibangkongdang and
Umangchalmang, it is said.
dylang ~ delang n ART little house
for the spirit of a dead person built
close to the house where the dead
person is burnt to keep his remains
and ashes. The spirit of the
deceased will live in this little
house until it is burnt in the
ceremony called memang saweta
about one year after his death and
the spirit will go to Balphakram.
dylgaba n PERS leader
Songmongaw dylgabae
Dibangkongdang
Umangchalmang mutynwano.
Songgadalaw dylgabae
Thometsangrepha
Rangkhaimadopha mutynwano.
The leaders of Songmong village
were Dibangkongdang and
Umangchalmang, it is said. The
50
leaders of Songgadal village were

Thometsangrepha and
Rangkhaimadopha, it is said.
dym ~ dam ideo bam! Thud! the
sound of something heavy hitting
the ground Ytykyimuna
tokkyrengaw manaimungna
hachina wuuuuuuuk dym!
takramphinoknotyi phylgym
galwaan. So then, having got him
in the neck, the giant eagle fell to
the ground wooooosh bam!
dym- v to grow (of plants), to
sprout
dymbrubru adj2 shiny
dymbyl n PLANT leaf of a tree
which can be dried and smoked
like tobacco
dymbyra dymbyra adv scattered
about
dymchyrang n ART type of
traditional snare instrument played
by plucking
dymdam adj2 naked
dymdam adv gratuitously, simply
dymdym damdam adv carelessly,
just, any way Alaga morotna
dymdym damdam hynna bai.
Dont just give it to someone else.
dyng v to fight
dyngdai- v to dangle
dyngdang adj1 alone Biphagaba
thyiokno. Kynsangdo gawigabado
dyngdanganokno. The husband
died, it is said. Then the wife was
alone, it is said.
dynggyni n ANIM species of fish
dyngthang adj2 different
dyngthangmancha adv especially
dypyleng v to flatten, to make flat
Gari bengbylokaw dypylengok,
ytykyimu bengbyloke pylengok.
The car flattened the toad, so the
toad was flat.
dypyw hasaw n ANIM species of
small snake
dypyw n ANIM snake
dypywkaram n ANIM species of
black snake
dypywkheng n ANIM species of
green snake
dypywnokma n ANIM anaconda
dypywpoda n ANIM cobra
dyra- v to rape
dyrang ~ darang n PERS people,
anyone
=dyrang ~ =darang encl (1) plural
(2) an approximate amount or time
Ytykyimu sadarangba panganoa.
So then, there were many children,
it is said. Maiawdo pangai sacha
phorenmi morotdyrangdo. They
dont eat a lot of rice, foreign
people. Ang ie maidyrangaw
sachawa. I will not eat all that
rice. Imi
kilomityrkolgykdyrangtykyi rang
niwa. About twenty kilometre
from here, there is no rain.
Umungdo marsja somaidarangchi
sawa. So then, around the time of
the month of March, we burn the
land.
dyri- ~ diri- v to hold
dythyi- vtr to kill (only used for
animals)
dytyi n KIN uncle: fathers elder
brother
dytyithangmaran n KIN my dytyi
and his younger brothers child
dyw- v to add
51
E
=e ~ =ai encl (1) contrastive topic
(2) emphatic positive
illocutionary-force Magachakdo:
Hai baisiga biskut sakhawna
noaidongano. Hyt mancha
nangba atong budi nowano
pherue. The dear [said]: Come
on, friend! I want to steak the
biscuits. What?! No! What are
you thinking?! [said] the fox.
Nangtymdo phylgymaw
nukchawakhonai! You might not
see the eagle at all!
echaluk n ANIM snail
edres n PLACE address
edisyn n ART edition
egyro n PLANT species of tree
ek- v to separate Pheruna hyncha
sawana amak, pherudo jalokno.
Baju ekokno. Ytykyimuna
kynsangdo amakdo
dyngdanganok. Because the
monkey gave nothing to the fox,
the fox ran away, it is said. The
friends separated. So then, later
the monkey was alone, it is said.
elmoni n SUBST aluminium
elong n ANIM species of fish
Endia ~ India n PLACE India
-eng sfx suffix to make a numeral
into a fracture, -(e)th, e.g.
kolgykeng one twentieth.
Kolgykeng chyigykeng jesykyn
ganang phalchido sotbongaba
chynaria, kamalnado. A twentieth,
a tenth, however much the revenue
of the sale, even fifty [percentage],
you just offer it to the priest
engkal ~ ingkal n ART
handkerchief
engsyri n ART bamboo strip that
runs on top of the bamboo floor of
a house and has warap as its
counterpart underneath the floor to
keep the bamboo strips that make
up the floor in place
epril n TIME April
epyl n PLANT apple
era n ANIM species of fish
eskrup n ART hinge
-et sfx causative suffix, on transitive
verbs this suffix indicates that the
action is manipulated, more
intense or emphasises that the
Patient argument is affected
FOOD sperm, semen, juice (of meat
and fruit)
G
ga- adj1 good, nice morot gagaba
a good person. Naange bichi
sanaka, biskute? Acha
nanange iawe hyiawchi tyi
gagabachi tyrywai sana
baisiga noaidongano. Where
shall we eat then, the biscuits?
Well, well eat them over there,
at that nice river while we take a
bath, he said, it is said.
Dymchyrangsangsa chywgyn
ryngaisa nanangdo gachawa.
Celebrating chywgyn only with
srting instruments is not good
enough for us.
ga- v to trample, to trod mai ga- to
thresh rice
gaak- vsec to be compelled to, to
be forced to Mongma wa
niwamian manai sachak,
khanggal dongok. Ytykyimu
hapsan nukhung rajasa muchido
manai sana nengok. Ytykyisa
dyngthangdyngthang songchina
hapchina jalthokna gaakok.
Because the elephant tusks were
52
gone, they [the people of Badri]

were not rich anymore, they
became poor. So then, if they
would stay together in the hundred
houses, they would run out of
wealth/food. Therefore they were
all compelled to run away to
different villages and places.
gadak- vtr to cut up
gadap- v to step on
gadukduk- v to prod with your
legs or feet Gore jalna
rakbebeokno. Khasinkhalai
jalkhalna noaimyng
gadukdukchiba rakkhalai
rakkhalai jalariokno. The horse
ran really quick, it is said. Having
told it to run slower, whenever he
prodded it with his legs, it just ran
faster and faster, it is said.
gajonong- v to trample on, to
crush, destroy Uchi rupekba: Hai
angba. Ang habilchi nok takai
mugabaaw phangnan mongmae
gajononga. Then the frog said:
Come on, me too. The elephant
always crushes my earthen shelter
like a house in which I live.
gajyret- v to crush with your foot
gakhat- v to climb Amakdo pan
gakhatna mana. Monkeys can
climb trees.
gakynyng- v to trample on, to
crush, to destroy Uchi rupekba:
Hai angba. Ang habilchi nok
takai mugabaaw phangnan
mongmae gakynynga. Then the
frog said: Come on, me too. The
elephant always crushes my
earthen shelter like a house in
which I live.
gaphak- v to hit with your foot
while walking
gaphynek- v to stamp to death
gapyret- v to stamp to death, to
crush with your foot
gapyryw- v to stamp through
something, to pierce by stamping
Thikthak saphaw butangga
rongkhalawan haiba mongmaba
gapyrywmanoknote. The
elephant stamped exactly through
the hole where the rabbit had
squeezed in, it is said.
gareret- v to tread on, to step on
something
gasu- adj1 splendid, cool, terrific
gasylek- v to sprain ones foot
gasyrot- v to slip and fall Wetsa
reengrawrawwachian dobachi
amakba gasorotaimu bunduk
baithongsyrangokno. Once when
they went a little further, the
monkey slipped and fell in the
mud and the gun broke in pieces, it
is said.
gatha n PERS idiot
gathymbylong v to make a hole in
a road or bridge by stamping
Getheng dolongchi
gathymbylongok. He made a hole
in the bridge by stamping on it.
gathyng v to kick
=gaba ~ =ga encl attributive/
derelational Thawgaba symgaba
phangnan sarongchagaba jilami
bostudyrangaw raai hynaimung
khasin khasin gumukawan
palyngchi jalgabadyrangaw
jykthangthangaw
jumuphynetaaknowa. Having
brought and given tasty, sweet
things from the district which are
usually never eaten, they were
slowly able to get their husbands
back, who had run away into the
jungle, it is said. Nok ang mugaba
gurumok. The house in which I
53
lived has collapsed. O chame,

angmi nangna khagalgabaaw
nangmi khatongchi dangetna
manphanima? O sweetheart, will
you be able to insert also my love
for you into your heart? Byryigaba
magachakdo jalangaimyng kawna
manancha. The fourth deer ran
away, so we could not shoot it.
Bigaaw biskut ranima? Which
biscuits shall I buy? Dakanggaba
turachi muwachi mobinaw
gorongwa. The first time I stayed
in Tura, I met Mobbin. Ning
songchigabadarangdo
nemthokaidonga. We, all the
villagers, are all well. Morot
sabanthaigabaaw kynchi baaimu
dawreng kawwano. A man
carrying his son on his back shot
the eagle, it is said.
gada n ANIM donkey
gadak- v to cut in pieces, to cut up,
Phylgym chunggaawdo
gadakaimu raakno,
kokchenggumuk. Having cut up
the big eagle, they took it with
them, a whole kokcheng full.
gadang gadang adv step by step
gadang n ART shelf
gadaw v to lift your chin up
gajol n PLANT species of red
carrot
-gak evsp V accidentally
Ytykyimyng, chaiparangai
tokaimyng, biphagaba nakhungaw
tokgakmanaimyng thyisyrangokno
amakdo, biphagabado. So then,
while she was beating him, she
was looking away, and she
accidentally hit her husbands
nose, and he died on the spot, it is
said, the monkey, her husband.
gakat- v to climb
gakgu- v to nod your head
gakji n PLANT lemon
gal n ACT pride, arrogance
Phalthang khuchuk dumgaba
sotmaiaw hongkhotna
manchaaimyng thygabaaw gal
takokno. He took pride in the flies
which had gathered in his own
mouth and had died not being able
to come out.
gal n CORP scar
gal- vintr to fall down Kynsangdo
raiwachie napitdo mongma
matsana nekarawrawna
kyrethyngaimyng phepmyng
galsyrangokno napitdo. Later,
when (the animals) were coming,
he feared the tigers, the elephants,
the ones that were continuously
coming closer, so much, he fell out
of the banyan tree, it is said, the
barber.
galruru- v scatter all over the
place, to fall through Bostu
galruruaimu rum serabera takok.
Because things are scattered all
over the place, the room is a mess.
Dokra pyrywaimu tangka bisyl
galruruok. Because my pocket
had a hole in it, the coins fell
through it.
galat- v to fall Tyikhal patwachi
rong rimylaimu
gasokhokaimuna, kokcheng
galatokno, saphawba galatokno.
When they were crossing the river,
because the stones were slippery,
the kokcheng fell and the rabbit
fell too, it is said.
galcha- v to boast
galdai n PLANT star fruit,
carambola, averrhoa carambola
galjak ~ kaljak n ANIM catfish
galon n ART/MSRE jerry can
54
gam ~ kam n ACT wealth, riches

Gam manni udo uan, tangka
poisa. Uan gam mynga, dakangmi
generations called that gam.
money is called gam.
gam jym khjyks/n ART wealth,
riches, fortune Tangka poisa
hagylsak gam jymaw
khaiaimu,dethenge
parangangokno. Having collected
money and riches, he wandered
away, it is said.
gambiri n PLANT species of tree
of which traditional drums called
khem were made
gamchat- v to be valuable, to be
important Breketmyng nyngchi
chipgaba katha pangai
gamchatga(ba) n ABSTR value
gamsa n ART a cloth
gamsili n PLANT species of tree of
which traditional drums called
khem were made
ganchang n ART rack above the
tyinok for plates and other kitchen
utensils; rack under the akan,
where meat is put to dry above the
fire
gantheng ~ gatheng n PLANT
the stem of a leaf or fruit
ganthong n ART stick, handle (of
knife etc.), stump (of a tree)
ganthong thong ni two sticks
ganang v locative/existential verb,
to exist, to be Nang sagyrai
ganangma? Do you have children?
Tanka nichiba ganangchiba ang
nangaw nemnuka. Whether you
have money or not, I like you. Ie
songchi nok kolachitsa ganang.
There are thirty one houses in this
village. Song damsachi alsia raja
myngsa ganangchym. In a village
supposedly lived a lazy king.
gandal n ART big beam that forms
the base of the house and rests on
the rongthai
gandalak n ANIM species of frog
which says gagagagaga
gandi n PLANT a log
gandurian n BODY umbilical cord
gandyrui n BODY bellybutton,
navel gandyrui goikorok six
bellybuttons
gang- v to be erect, to have an
erection, to have a hard on, Nang
ri gangama? Do you have an
erection?/Do you have a hard on?
-ganggang evsp bouncily, bumpily,
going up and down in a bouncing
way. Ram thymbylong, ytykyimyng
gari bytganggangwa. The road is
ful of potholes, so the car was
bouncing.
ganggawa n ANIM mosquito
gangma n CORP pimple
gangphu- v to swell, to blow up
(like a chapatti on the fire)
gangthai n BODY fin (of fish)
ganthai n ANIM small brown
insect that makes a loud whistling
sound
gantheng n PLANT stalk
gantirengreng n ANIM species of
beetle that makes a very loud and
high pitched sound
gapsan ~ hapsan adj2 the same,
together
garamak n ART soot
55
garan n FOOD jerky

gari n ART vehicle, car
Garo n PERS/ACT Garo (person
and language)
garu n PLANT mustard
gasam gasam adv sometimes,
seldom
gasam tw afternoon, evening, later
part of the day Gasam tin bajichi
reengni. We will leave this
afternoon at three oclock. myia
gasam yesterday
evening/afternoon, taini gasam
today in the evening/afternoon,
this evening/afternoon Taini
gasam reengphinni. I will go back
in this evening/afternoon.
gasam- v to be evening Gasamok.
It has become evening.
Gasamnaka. It will soon be night.
gasamphang ~ gasamphak n
TIME afternoon, evening, later
part of the day
-gat evsp V up onto, to start V-ing
Chengwami achu ambido khemaw
rangaw ragatnaan... The first
ancestors wanted to start using a
drum...
gat- v to dig
gat- v to put in/on, to load into/onto
Phagongmachi sa gataimyng
tyinyngsang dangangokno.
Having put the child on his
shoulders he entered into the
water, it is said.
gatdap- v to stack, to put on top
gatha n PERS fool, crazy person
(masculine)
gathi n PERS fool, crazy person
(feminine)
gawak n ABSTR disease
gawang ~ guwang n ANIM spider
gawangsyryng n ANIM spider web
gawasu n BODY rib gawasu
tyntham three ribs
gawi n PERS female, girl
(unmarried)
gawigaba n PERS wife
gawsu n BODY rib
getheng ~ detheng ppron he/she,
third person singular pronoun
referring to animates
gethengtheng ~ dethengtheng
ppron they, third person plural
pronoun referring to animates
gebeng n ABSTR width, breadth
geer n ART gear
gegydek n PLANT species of plant
gekgek ideo the call of the hornbill
geng clf classifier for long
vegetables rasunok gengsa one
spring onion
genji n ART tank top genji
khung/jora ni two tank tops
gepgep ideo quack quack! the call
of a duck
ges ~ kes n ART strut: beam that
runs, as the long side of a
rectangular triangle, between the
manjuri and the gandal in the
structure of a house
gesep ~ gysep ~ gisep n PLACE
space, interval. See gysep.
getphul ~ lekhaphul n PLANT
bougainvillea
giching ~ gyching See gyching.
ginggang adj2 having, with
gisep ~ gysep ~ gesep n PLACE
space, interval. See gysep.
gisep gisep ~ gysep gysep adv from
time to time Nanage song
janrukok. Umi gymyn bichiba
gisep gisep chiti saietrukarinaka.
Our countries are very far from
each other. Therefore we will
56
sometimes write each other letters

from time to time.
git n ART music, music with lyrics,
a song
githyng ~ gythyng ~ githing ~
githyng adj2 unripe, uncooked,
raw
gobormen ~ golmen n PERS
government
godot- v to bump Cha rongchi
godotwa. I bumped my food on a
stone
gogak n ANIM beetle
gogat- v to carry on the shoulders
gogylek n ANIM cock, rooster,
cockerel
gogyrek n PERS a baby with its
neck bent sideways while it is
being carried on the back
goi n PLANT betel nut, areca nut
(Areca catechu)
goi clf non-specific classifier
goichara n PLANT a betel nut
sapling, a young betel nut tree
goilapan n FOOD betel nut and
paan/pan
Goira n GEO the god of thunder
goira kawa the god of thunder
shoots / the thunder roars goira
byl tanok the god of thunder has
struck / lightening has struck
gol ~ gool n ACT goal Getheng gol
saak. He got a goal (in football).
golap n PLANT rose
golmal ~ gormal n ACT a fight, a
quarrel, chaos
golmen ~ gobormen n PERS
government
golpho n ART story
golpho- v to talk extensively
golpho kha- to talk extensively, to
gossip Kynsang golphook
golphook. Golpho khawachie
walangaidok. Then, they talked
and talked. While they were
talking, night was falling. Taisa
anga wensado uaw golpho
khaak. I have just talked about
that. Boba myngsagabachi myng
abun bobachi teewdo bobarara
myngni golpho kharukokno. The
first crazy person to the other
crazy person, now, among crazy
persons, the two of them gossiped
to each other, it is said.
gom n PLANT wheat
gom- v to bend gomga(ba) leech
gomagundai n PLANT species of
thick banana
gompara ~ gompyra n ANIM
species of large, poisonous, black
ant
gomynda n PLANT pumpkin
gomynthyri n PLANT species of
vegetable
gondu n ANIM rhinoceros, rhino
gong- v to be willing, to agree,
Atakaronga? nookno
mongmado. "Niwa. Muariaronga
ytykyian" nookno amake.
Atongba sakhawarongkhonne
nangdo nookno. Sakhawcha
naa. Niwa naa, gongwanasa
balwa sakai muarong
noatakokno amakba. What are
you doing? said the elephant?
Nothing. Im just sitting here like
this, said the monkey. Maybe
you are stealing something! said
[the elephant] Im not stealing!
Theres nothing going on. Im just
sitting here enjoying the wind
because I want to, said the
monkey. Ha ambi ang chakaw
khenetkhu nowano. Gongchak
angdo sa jywtynnaka tedo.
Nangna myia khenetokte
57
nowano. Hey grandchild, please

scratch my arm! she said. I dont
want to anymore, I am going to
put my child to bed now. I
scratched you yesterday, she said,
it is said.
gongchit n ANIM Stag beetle
gongdang adj2 bent Ytykyimyng
tedo magachakdo, ytykyi pan
gongdang takgabachi ne
nangwanote. Ne nanggaba
okkumachi jywsawtheriaidokno.
So then, now, as for the deer, so
there was a bees nest hanging
from a bent tree branch, it is said.
He was fast asleep under the bees,
it is said.
gonggong- v to bend over
gop- v to bury, to hide Nang baba
noksamchi tangka gopgaba
ganangno. Under your fathers
house lies buried money, it is said.
Morot thyigabaaw hanep gopnaka.
Tomorrow they will bury the dead
person. Thengthon morot tangka
bisyl pangai khaigabaaw
nukokno. Ytykyimyng hap
damsachi syruk syruk
gopaidongano. Uaw nukaimyng
gethengdo thymai chaioknoro.
Thengthon sees a man who was
carrying a lot of coin money, it is
said. So then, he is hiding secretly,
it is said. Having seen him, he lay
in ambush and watched him, it is
said.
gopgylang adj2 hollow
gopram n PLACE grave
gora n ART large earthen pot in
which rice liquor (chyw) is made.
gorai ~ gore n ANIM horse gore
dung- to ride a horse
gorial n ANIM crocodile
gorong- v to meet
-gorop evsp V with a whole group,
V together Uchie jyrym tymaimyng
rawokno, jinmatykyi
pyigoropokno. Then the people of
the village, having quietly lain in
ambush, caught Thengthon, they
grasped him all together, it is said.
gorothop n PLANT species of
small leafy green
gorweng ~ wengwang n ANIM
species of cricket that makes the
noise of a screaming baby or a
woman being murdered
grem clf gram, gr.
gremyr n ART/ABSTR grammar
guchung n ART ladder
guduk- v to wiggle, to be unstable,
to wobble, to move (unstably)
guduk tak- almost [verb] Nalam
gudukwachie teewdo tyi
thangpytpytaimyng jyksaiaiawan
Nawengawmu Kumiribaawma
khamoknowa. When the nalam
(species of fish) wiggled, water
splashed on the married couple
Naweng and Kumiri and burned
them, it is said. Rong gudukaimu
galatok. Because the stone moved,
I fell. Aia! Udo magachakdo
khorate noaimyng rykoknowa.
Tharapna guduk takwachiba
Hey, this deer is lame! he said
and chased after it, it is said. When
he almost caught up with the deer,
it run away fast, it is said, the deer.
gugyreng n ANIM species of
grasshopper
gugyreng sa n ANIM species of
bright-green grasshopper
gukchepchep n ANIM grasshopper
gukmadym n ANIM grasshopper
gul- ~ jul- v to walk through the
jungle with difficulty.
58
gulgul galgal ideo growl! growling

noise that the stomach makes
Pipuk gulgulgalgal takaidonga.
My stomach is growling.
gumi n KIN brother-in-law: elder
sisters husband or husbands elder
brother
gumithangmaran n KIN my
husband and my younger sister or
younger brother together
gumuk qtf/encl all, whole,
everybody, everyone, everything
gumuksangan ~ gumuksang prof
everywhere Gumuksangan ganang
ukching. There are leeches
everywhere. Getheng gumuksang
reengok. He went everywhere.
gumuksangan adv everywhere
gun montyro manga(ba) n PERS
person who can control the spirits
gunda n PERS brawler, fighter
gungsynung n PLANT species of
tree
guri n GEO mist, fog Guri thupa.
The fog is thick.
guruchup- v to be shrouded in
clouds Waimong nukcha,
guruchupok. Waimong mountain
is not visible, it is shrouded in
clouds.
gurum- ~ gyrum- v to collapse, to
break off and fall down
Banggyriaimu nok gurumok.
Because of the earthquake the
house has collapsed. Narykhelchak
gurumok. The leaf of the coconut
tree has broken off and fallen
down.
gusu- v to cough
gusum- v spoiled (only used with
meals) Mai jabek gusumok. The
rice and curry are spoiled
gusylak n CORP abrasion ang
randai gusylakok I got an
abrasion.
guthini ~ guthyni n ART spear,
bamboo spear which is part of an
elephant trap, walking stick
guthum ~ gythym ~ gythum n
ART village
guwang ~ gawang n ANIM spider
gycheng n PLACE side, near
Jyksaian phonggychengchian
muaidonga. The married couple
are sitting near the cooking place.
gyching ~ giching adj2 aslant,
slant, diagonal, at an angle,
inclined
gyching ~ giching n
PLACE/ABSTR vicinity, angle,
inclination
gychingching mu- v to be tilted, to
make an angle
gyl- adj1 strong Usang, songga
Manggagremi banthaidarangba
raiaaithokaidongano,
Rakarelwakmadare,
Gyrynggyrang, Saljapang,
Aragundi, Motbanda,
Asyngduraparaba gumukan
raiathokaidongano. Chakphong
gylgabasano, kara
khyrynggabararasano,
alamylachagabasano. They are all
coming to there, the young man
from the strange village of
Manggare: Rakarelwakmadare,
Aragundi, Motbanda,
Asyngduraparaba, they are all
coming, it is said. They are men
with strong arms and tight veins
all over, it is said, they are not
ordinary men, it is said.
gyl- v to collect, to gather
59
gylas ~ gilas n ART glass or its

volume, glassful cha gylas ni two
glasses of tea. Gylas goitham
baiok gethene. He has broken
three glasses.
gylgyl- v to roam
gylja n PLACE church
gyljanok n PLACE church
gymyn postp cause, reason, because
of, about Ue gam pangwami
gymyn kam pangwami gymyn
gethengtheng mykbyrukokno.
Because of this wealth and these
riches they had become jealous of
one another, it is said. Unmi
gymynsa ie hapawe Badri
Rongdyng Hawai noyi
techinakhyngkhyng myngwano.
Thats precisely why this place is
still called Badri Rongdyng
Hawai up till now. Uan jorami
gymyn chosa golpho kaetwa. I
have told a bit about that love
match.
gyp ideo thunk!, tap!, bam! a hitting
sound Ue uawdo kunsang gyp
satetok. He hit him bam! with a
stick.
gyrum- ~ gurum- v to collapse, to
break off and fall down. See
gurum.
gyrym n PLANT bush, patch
gyryp- v to cover
gyryw- v to shake (an object that
you can pick up, a non-fixed
object)
gysep ~ gisep ~ gesep n PLACE
space, interval Bandi nochie
atongaw balkhunano? Samung
sagyraichie kanwani chungwani
kalai kharutchungaban
thengchidokno. Dykymchi
khyrykrara, dikhal gesepchi
dirara, pipuke moina chongchang
takariokno. When I talk about
Bandi, what can I say? He had no
clothes; he wore a loincloth tied
together with sixteen knots. On his
head swarmed the lice, his ass
crack was full of shit, his belly
looked like a bird cage, it is said.
Panga bylsidarang reengok umi
gesepchian thyikhal goisachian
rongkhal khalsa ganangchym. Ue
rongkhalaw Durakhal
myngwachym. Many years ago, in
a river, there was a cave, but not
anymore, it is said. That cave was
supposedly called Durakhal.
gysep gysep ~ gisep gisep adv from
time to time Nanage song
janrukok. Umi gymyn bichiba
gisep gisep chiti saietrukarinaka.
Our countries are very far from
each other. Therefore we will
sometimes write each other letters
from time to time.
gythym ~ guthum ~ gythum n
ART village
gythyng ~ githyng ~ githing ~
githyng adj2 unripe, uncooked,
raw
H
ha interj hey! interjection to get
someones attention . Hyiawe ram
thongsachi bydyi goronokno.
Bydyi gorongwachi: Ha!
achudyrang, nangtyme bisang?
nooknote. After a while, they met
an old man on the road. When they
met the old man, he said: Hey
grandsons, where are you going?
ha haw- v to cut/clear the land to
make a haba Phasgaba
hahawchenga. Umungsa ha
hawaimungsa wacham tana.
First we clear the jungle. Then,
60
having cleared the jungle, we cut

the old rice stalks.
ha hawai sa- expr to live from
agriculture, to live from tilling the
soil. Ue gawichie sa myngkorok
ganangno aro detheng pipukchi
sa myngsa
ganangkhuano.Ytykyimungna ha
hawai saarongnotyi, usangaw
Rangpynramsangaw ha hawai
saairongno. That woman had six
children and in her belly she had
another child. So then, she lived
from agriculture and she tilled the
soil there at Rangpynram.
ha kam- v to clear the field, to cut
the jungle to make a field, to tear
out weeds
ha n SUBST soil, earth
ha procl Take this! Take this from
me. Here, take this. Here.
haba n PLACE dry rice and
vegetable field on the slope of a
hill made by cutting away and
burning the jungle haba tym ni
two dry rice and vegetable fields
on the slope of a mountain
habacheng- vB to start, to begin
Uchisa matsana makbulna
mongmana paichaaimung byldyng
byldang jalna habachengok.
Then, not bearing the tigers and
elephants anymore, they started to
run all over the place.
habachenggaba n ABSTR
beginning
habanok n PLACE rice field
house
habykung n SUBST sand
habyreng n PLACE old haba
habyri n GEO hill, mountain
habyri thut tham three hills,
mountains
hachak n ACT wages
hachepchep n ANIM grasshopper
Hachyk n PERS/ACT Garo
(person and language)
hadawak n PLACE lower side of a
hill, low ground
hagun n PLACE old plot of land in
a haba Baidamdo
hawangmangaba hagun
saangmangaba
harynthangthangaw kanga. Some
people occupy their old already
cut plot, their own parcel which is
already used completely.
hagyrsak ~ hagylsak interj
interjection of astonishment Naa
sagyrai mylthengtheng
bisangreengaidong naa bunduk
pairama takaimu? nookno.
Myla hagylsakno sagyraido.
Naa bisang reengaidong naa
sagyrai mylthengtheng? You
child which is still very much too
small, where are you going
carrying that gun in your hand?
he said. Good Lord, that child is
small! Where are you going, you
child who is still much too small?
hagyrsak ~ hagylsak n
ABSTR/PLACE everything, all,
the world, the earth Mekalaia
hagelsakgumukchi
wabatsyranggaba. Meghalaya is
the rainiest place on earth.
ha haw- vpan to clear the land
Umungdo marsja somaidarangchi
sawa. First, the land is cleared.
Then, around the month of March,
the land is burnt.
hajagyra n ACT the first weeding
of the haba. Mai
kaimanwamungsa hajagara
kama. Hajagara kamaisa
kamaimung kynsange jakun kama.
Jakun kamaimungsa nobembyl,
61
oktobylsomaichi saigyn khana.

Umungdo mai mynokodo maidan
syla thoka. Having planted the
rice, we weed the land for the first
time. Having cleared the weeds for
the first time, we will clear them
for a second time. Having weeded
the land for a second time, in
October or November we do a
third weeding. Then, when the rice
is ripe, we celebrate the new rice
festival.
hakha n PLACE hillslope, a steep
slope, upper side of a hill, high
ground Hakhasang tawangbo.
Climb to a higher part of the hill.
hakha- v very tight Ian hakhaai
khabo. Tie this very tightly.
ha kham- vpan to burn the land
(land that is prepared for
agriculture) Umungdo marsja
somaidarangchi sawa. Sawaisa
hakhamchido khynna nangcha.
Hakhamchachido ha khynchenga. Ha khynmanwamungsa
maisi khita. Then, around the
month of March, the land is burnt.
If it is burnt and everything burns,
it is not necessary to collect any
remaining cinders. If not
everything is burnt, the remaining
cinders are collected first. Only
after collecting the cinders, millet
is sown.
hakhong n PLACE valley
hakhung n GEO river bank
hakym n a bond between two
families, where the woman marries
a man who belongs to her father's
mahari. If a woman marries a man
from a mahari other than her
fathers, her husband has to
undergo a process called jyw raa
as part of an affidavit into the
wife's father's mahari to legalise
his bond as member of the wife's
father's mahari.
ha khyn- vpan to collect the
remaining cinders after burning
the field to make it ready for
agriculture. Umungdo marsja
somaidarangchi sawa. Sawaisa
Hakhamchachido ha khynchenga. Ha khynmanwamungsa
maisi khita. Then, around the
month of March, the land is burnt.
If it is burnt and everything burns,
it is not necessary to collect any
remaining cinders. If not
everything is burnt, the remaining
cinders are collected first. Only
after collecting the cinders, millet
is sown.
hakhyng n PLACE land that
belongs to a rich peron or nokma.
hamai n ANIM species of white
earthworm
hamang n SUBST soil, earth, clay
hamangkyrang n ANIM scorpion
hamangrong adj2 brown
hamat adv troublesome
hapal n PLACE outside
haphal n PLACE field
harongrong n PLACE lower side
of a hill, low ground
Harongrongsang wylangbo. Go
down to a lower part of the hill.
haryn n parcel (of land), plot (of
land) Songgumuk thomaimyng
haba haryn harynaw sowalni.
The whole village gathers and will
divide the haba parcel by parcel.
haryn n PLACE plot of land,
parcel Songgumuk thomaimyng
haba haryn harynaw sowalni.
62
hasaw n ANIM species of black

snake with red neck and head
hasel adv for no reason, uselessly,
troublesome
hasong n PLACE country, village
and surrounding lands
hathywkong n GEO a puddle
hatykylok n GEO a puddle
hawai n PLACE plain area
hachi- v to sneeze
hai procl Lets go! Come on!
hai determiner the, this, that (thing
or person just mentioned)
haie ~ hai- general demonstrative
proform; Let me see; uh;
whatchamacallit? such and such
happened, its like, whatever
Utykyi dongwano ie
Wiliamnagarmi haie Dorenggo
Wadachongmi histyri. Thats how
it is, it is said, Williamnagars
uh Dorenggo Wadachongs
history. San sachi amak aro
pherue ytym myngni bajunoro,
mo. Ytykyimuna kynsangdo
atakokno? Ytym myngnie
sangumuk gylgylarongno
glgylarongno gylgylarongno.
Uchie amakan haiaw rekthai
myngaaw nukoknoro. One day the
monkey and the fox were friends,
it is said, OK. So then, later, what
happened? They, the two of them
roamed around the whole day.
Then the monkey saw these uh
bananas. Uchie karydyl chunggaba
haiwano. ha ambi ang chakaw
khenetkhu nowano. Then the
hanging root did this, it is said.
Hey grandchild, scratch my
arm! she said, it is said.
Phylgymsa haiwa naa ue. Garu
ramgabachi nanang garu
ramtananggachi dietdapai
tanangwa nookno. The giant
eagle did this, oh you! In the dried
mustard, in our dried mustard, he
left a big shit, she said, it is said.
Ytykyi phetaaimungna haiokno,
nokchina janggalan: Bie nang
jongdyrange? Nang jonge bie?
nookno janggalchi syngokno. So
when they had arrived, it was
like, at home, all of them:
Where is your younger brother?
Your younger brother, where is
he? she said, it is said.
Uchiansega haiokno, pheru
nuksegaakno sawamiaw. Then in
turn, this thing happened, the fox
spotted some food, it is said.
Rymai sawachie, amakdo pan
gakhatna manano. Khusumdo
haiokno. Khusumdo gakhatna
manchano. Having cooked and
eaten it, the monkey is able to
climb into a tree, it is said. As for
the turtle, he did whatever, it is
said. The turtle cannot climb trees,
it is said.
haida procl I dont know.
hajal ~ hajar num thousand hajalsa
one thousand.
hajam- v to yawn
hajira n ART daily wages
hal- v to feed muthai hal- to
breastfeed
hala kha- v to wake someone up,
to disturb someone
haldun- v to feed, to maintain Ie
people, it is said.
halsia ~ alsia n PERS lazy person
63
ham- v to build, to construct

hama n PLACE underneath, below,
space between the floor or the base
of something and the ground
Tawsagrai nok hamaaw
jalphakangaidonga. The chicks
are running under the house (from
one side to the other).
hambun dtw later (but not today),
in the future
hampyi dtw in the late afternoon, in
the evening
hancheng n SUBST sand
handykmai n CORP jungle fever
handykmai sa- to be ill with
jungle fever
handyng n ART beam that forms
part of the base structure of a
house perpendicular to the gandal
hansaw- v to enjoy
hanseng- v be happy, be joyful, to
enjoy Ytykyimyng nado amak di
saaimu hansengtokaidoknoa. So
then, after the fish had eaten the
monkeys shit, they were all very
happy, it is said.
hantung- adj1 to be a dangerous
place Mungma pangwachi palyng
hantunga. When there are a lot of
elephants the jungle is a dangerous
place.
hantung- v to feel secure, to feel
safe Morot pangai raibo,
hanthungkhala. Go with lots of
people, you will feel safer.
hanep n tomorrow Hanep
sansaanok. Tomorrow there will
be one day left.
hang- v to warm your hands by the
fire, to dry meat or other things
near the fire
hangkhal n GEO cave, hole
hangkhal khal chatgyk eight
caves
hangkyn n ANIM species of ant
that lives inside dead wood and
eats it
hangkyn raja n ANIM species of
ant
hanthi- v to divide, to share Umi
gesepchian gamaw hanthiokno
wagabae. In the meantime the
father had divided his fortune, it is
said. Songgumuk thomaimyng
haba haryn harynaw hanthini.
Je haryn nigababado uan
hanthirukai hawa. As for those
whoever does not have a plot,
those mutually share and clear the
land. Angdo dyngthangmancha
nang khagalchido nangmi
gamaw angna hathiphabo. If you
love me especially, divide your
wealth for me.
hap n GEO place Umigymynsa ie
hapawe Badri Rongdyng Hawai
noanowa, aro rangawba mykha
badri myngwanowa. Thats why
this place is called Badri
Rongdyng Hawai, it is said, and
the rain is also called mykha
Badri, it is said.
hap n QUANT half
haphu- v to blow
hapjyt- v to move house
happen n ART short pants, shorts
hapsan ~ gapsan adj2 the same,
together Ang nangmi/nangmyng
hapsan chunga. I am as big as
you.
hat- v to fuck Teraka
krismassomaichi ue gawiaw
babylsichi nokwengchi hatok
angdo. Last year at Christmas I
fucked that girl on the floor in the
kitchen.
64
haw n KIN uncle: mothers brother

haw- v to clear/cut the jungle to
make a rice field hawai kamai
sagaba someone who works hard
and struggles to survive.
hawmaran n KIN my haw and
his (elder or younger) sisters
unmarried child
hawnokhol n KIN father-in-law,
deceased father-in-laws heir,
addressed as mama
hawchi dem over there, yonder
hawe ~ haw- dem that over there,
very far, remote demonstrative
hawnokholburung n KIN a group
that is formed when one or more
fathers-in-law and sons-in-law
come together: a group of
hawnokhol and khynokhol
hawtyi adv for some time
Thorokaimyng hawtyi rypokno
magachake. Having jumped down,
he stayed in the water for some
time, it is said, the deer.
hen n ART knot
heng- v widely spaced, sparse
henraiting n ART handwriting
het- v to clean an orifice or hole, to
blow your nose Nakhal hetbo.
Clean your ears!
hijra n PERS gay person,
homosexual
hil n ART heel (of a shoe) Teew
reenggaba gawi, longpen kanai
juta hilaw (Wilseng S Marak) The
girl who just went by wearing
trousers and shoes with high
heels
hira n SUBST/ART diamond
hit- v to command
hmm ~ mm procl no
ho- v to jump
hoong procl yes
hogol n snoring Juwchenwachi
nang hogol rawa. For the first
part that you were asleep you
snored
hojokjok- v to jump up and down
hok- v to call loudly
holdiasop n CORP jaundice, yellow
fever
Holen n PERS/PLACE Holland,
Dutch Holenmorot Dutchman /
Dutchwoman
hongkhot- v to come out, to exit, to
ejaculate, to cum Ytykyimyng
amak gawigaba biphagabaaw
kynaw thup, thup tokaidonganoa.
Uchian amakmu disa chat chat
hongkhotaidongano. So then, the
monkeys wife beats her
husbands back tok, tok. Then the
monkeys shit comes out squirt!
squirt! it is said.
hopat- v to jump like taking a step,
i.e. with your legs apart, not with
both legs together
hot- v to extract
huhu interj Hello? Is someone
there?
huraw n ANIM gibbon, Hylobates
hoolock
huk- v to sweep together
huksetgaba ~ huksetga n ART
dustpan
hung- v to swim
hup- v to suck
husyring n ANIM rabbit
hy interj no
hyiawchi dem over there, yonder
hyiawe ~ hyiaw- dem that over
there, very far, very remote
demonstrative
hyits ~ hys ~ hyis ~ tyis ~ tys ~ yis
interj Ugh! What the?!
65
Expresses disapproval or
indignation.
hyn- v to give When the recipient
is marked with the goal enclitic
=na the object given was meant to
become the possession of that
recipient. Tangkaaw Samratna
hynbo. Give the money to
Samrat. Angna tangka ratja
banga hynetbo. Give me five
hundred rupees. When the
recipient is marked by the locative,
the recipient is a temporary keeper
of the object given, i.e. the
locative-marked recipient will give
the object to someone else later.
Tangkaaw Samratchi hynbo.
Give the money to Samrat (so that
he can give it to someone else).
This locative construction in
Atong is functionally equivalent to
the Thai construction using the
word in:
I give him the money to give

to you. The word has been
attested to mean wish in
expressions like Nangba happy
new year hynetaidong. We wish
you a happy new year too.
hynggek n ANIM hornbill
hys interj See hyits.
hyt interj (1) interjection of
irritation or anger (2) interjection
to chase an animal away
I
ie ~ i- dem this, proximal
demonstrativeil
ileksyn n ACT election
ilektrisiti n ART electricity
In the negative this verb can mean
to seize, to capture. Ramchi
hampyi nanangdo watchaka
gethengawdo, sala! Gethengaw
watkhuna sootthelarinaka noai
khumongangokno. This evening
we will certainly get rid of him on
the road, the bastard! We will kill
him after all to get rid of him once
more, they conspired freely, it is
said.
inchi clf the width of the upper joint
of the thumb, i.e. the joint under
the nail
India n GEO India
inggeech n ACT engagement
Inggeech khaak. I am engaged to
be married.
Inggylan n PLACE England
Inggylis ~ Inglis n English
(language or person)
ingkal ~ engkal n ART
handkerchief
insuren n ACT insurance
isor ~ isol n ABSTR God
isykyn ~ iskyn dem so much, so
many, such, this much, this many
Anga iskyn gamaw hanthietok.
Iskyn jangaba songsang detheng
jalangok. I gave him such wealth.
He ran away to such a far country.
Kynsangdo bean bebe iskyn san
iskyn somai thik khaaknoaro.
Later, truly, they agreed to meet
on such and such a day and time.
itha ~ ita n ART brick itha thut sa
one brick
itihas n ART history
J
ja interj interjection to chase a cow
away
ja sa- v to wake up, to get up, to get
out of bed
66
ja tw month, moon ja sa- to wake

up ja phetok the moon has risen
jabek n FOOD curry
jachung n KIN (1) (Siju and Badri
dialects) the relation of a man and
his wifes elder sister, or of a
woman and her younger sisters
husband (2) (Badri dialect) sisterin-law: wifes elder sister (called
bochi in the Siju dialect)
jachungthanmaran n KIN my
husband and my elder sister
together
jaga n ART a trap Jaga saakno
uchie, taw pangai banokno.
They set traps and then caught
many birds, it is said. jaga
sagaba someone who sets traps,
an enemy
jagaraw ~ jagyraw n PLANT
species of tree of which the big
leaves are used as raichak to pack
food in
jagaru n PLANT species of
vegetable
jajol ~ jagol n PERS person with
long legs
jakhop ~ chakhop n ART shoe
janaw n KIN elder sister. This
older female cousin or a woman
older than the speaker.
janawburung n KIN a group of
more than two sisters
janawmaran n KIN two sisters
japhang n PLACE foot of a tree
Uchie panjaphangchi
thymsawaimu, khusum amakmyng
rikaran kakchotokno. Then,
having lain in ambush at the foot
of the tree, the turtle bit and tore
off the monkeys balls, it is said.
jaraw- adj1 for a long time
jaryt n PLANT chilli pepper
jarytbok n PLANT species of
plant
jaboldam n ART garbage heap
jabyra n PERS fool, crazy person
jada n PERS stupid person, idiot
jadu n ACT magic
jagat- v the fact that your soul
leaves your body and temporarily
enters an animal
jagybeng ~ jagebeng n ART beams
that form the supporting structure
of the floor of a house and on top
of which the bamboo floor can be
attached
jagydok n BODY/ABSTR biceps,
strength Ido sagyraido hambundo
chungwachido alamyla byldo
bylnikhon, jagydokdo
jagydoknikhon. In the future that
child might really become a bit
stronger, it might really get
strength.
jagyra n PLACE right, right hand,
right hand side
jagyryng n ACT shadow cast by a
person
jagysi n PLACE left, left hand, left
hand side
jahas n ART ship
jai- v to scold someone
jai- v to oppose, to refuse Unasa
Ketketa Burae pheruna jaisakna
chol mancha
chomotaimyng:Acha, ytykchido
anga ang nokkhuthaisa anga
dykdyksa chaigamaimyng kepai
mukhuna noaimyng
tholthiriokno, pheruna Ketketa
Burae. Because Ketketa Bura
could really not come up with an
idea to oppose the fox, he said:
Ok, in that case I will quickly
67
look out from the top of my house

and sit and cry, he lied again to
the fox, it is said, Ketketa Bura.
jajong n GEO moon
jajyreng n ACT confusion
jajyreng- vgoal to worry Ang
nangna jajyrenga. I am worried
about you.
jakhal- v to use
jakhalthaw- adj1 to be very useful
jakhep clf as much as is contained
in the palm of the hand when
clenched, the quantity contained in
the closed palm
jaksan n BODY wrist
jaksithem n ART ring
jaksyl n ART bracelet
jakun n ACT the second weeding
of the haba. Mai
kaimanwamungsa hajagara
kama. Hajagara kamaisa
kamaimung kynsange jakun kama.
Jakun kamaimungsa nobembyl,
oktobylsomaichi saigyn khana.
Umungdo mai mynokodo maidan
syla thoka. Having planted the
rice, we weed the land for the first
time. Having cleared the weeds for
the first time, we will clear them
for a second time. Having weeded
the land for a second time, in
October or November we do a
third weeding. Then, when the rice
is ripe, we celebrate the new rice
festival.
jal- v to run away Iskyn jangaba
songsang detheng jalangok. He
ran away to such a far country.
byldang jalna habachengok. Not
bearing the tigers, bears and
run away all over the place.
When [the Bengal] almost reaches
[it], [it] just runs away, it is said,
the deer.
jaljeng n ART cupboard
jalphakang- v to run from one side
to the other
jam- vphase to complete, to finish
Sawa jamkhucha. I have not
finished eating yet. Rang
nemchengama nanang chyw
jamchenga noai rangmu chyw
ryngsusai chyichie, range san chi
byri wawano. Will our liquor
finish first or will the rain stop
first? they said and while they
were trying to compete with the
rain in drinking, the rain fell for
fourteen days, it is said. Gasamchi
rymai sawa jamchagabaaw
Nawengpara Kumiriparae
sawaimyng garan bawai
tanoknokhon. The food that they
didnt finish in the evening, having
fried it, they might have dried it
above the fire, it is said. Ang
amaparami nokchi randai sana
jamcha. At my mothers house,
there is always meat to eat. ja
jamangwasang at the end of the
month
jama n ART shirt
jamang- v to set (of the sun)
Rangsan jamanga. The sun sets.
jambu n PLANT species of tree
jamkhamwa n ABSTR the last one
jamura n PLANT pomelo
jan- adj1 far Haba janrukwaan
nukruketchawa. The rice fields are
very far apart from each other, you
will not see each other.
jang- adj1 quick
68
jangjot adj2 biconcave, curved on

both sides like the inner surface of
a sphere, narrow in the middle
Bandi nochie atongaw
balkhunano? Samung
sagyraichie kanwani chungwani
kalai kharutchungaban
thengchidokno. Dykymchi
khyrykrara, dikhal gesepchi
dirara, pipuke moina chongchang
takariokno. Chae dabakun tykyi
ympong jangjot takarioknotyi.
What more can we tell about this
so called Bandi? When he was a
child he was half naked, wearing
only a loin cloth tied together with
sixteen knots, it is said. His head
was all lice, his arse crack was full
of shit, his belly was big like a
birds cage, it is said. As for his
legs, they looked like coconuts on
sticks: bulgy in some parts and
very thin in other, it is said, to our
surprise.
janggal n QUANT everybody,
everything, all, all of them, all of it
Sagyrai mylgabami
dadadarangawdo janggalawan
monokokno. Phylgym chunggaba
monokrumokno myngkorokawan.
As for the brothers of the small
child, they were devoured, it is
said. The big eagle had devoured
them all, the six of them.
janggi khenwa khjyks/n ACT life
Ang janggi khengwa gumuk Atong
khuchuk balwa. I have spoken
Atong all my life.
janggi n ACT life Kynsangdo
matsado morotsyn manaimyng
raiwilokno alsiado.
Raiwilwilokno. Matsae
atakna? chanchiaidongano ue.
Kyreaidokno kyrewaba. Anga
thyie thyimanok. Ichian: Anga
janggiba thyimanok. Later, the
tiger caught the scent of the human
and walked in circles around the
lazy person, it is said. What does
the tiger want? he thought. He
was very afraid, it is said. Im as
good as dead! Then: My life is
already gone.
janggi thyi- vpan to die Dethengmi
janggi thyimanok. He has already
died.
janira n ART mirror
janti n ART filter for rice beer
(chyw). Woven cylindrical filter
made of reed that stands in the jug
(gora) to form a permeable
membrane between the fermented
rice on the outside of the filter and
the alcoholic water inside the
filter. Water is poured onto the
fermented rice and the alcoholic
liquid is collected inside the filter
and scooped out with an abek.
januari n TIME January
jap n ART trap to drive away
enemies. A pile of rocks is stacked
on a hill behind a plank. The plank
is tied to a tree. When the enemy
comes, the rocks are released, roll
down and crush the enemy.
jap- v to pile up
japang n PLANT tree trunk
japrukruk adv one on top of the
other, in a pile
jarambong n GEO full moon
jarang- vintr to shine
jari- v to be startled
jaria n ART influence, pathway (cf.
Hindi /zariy/ pathway),
jasa- v to wake up, to get up, to get
out of bed
jaseng- v to shine
jasyri n ACT the experience that
you see yourself in a different
69
place while you are asleep as if

your soul leaves your body
jat n PERS tribe, race
jatha n ART a spear
jatram n PLANT species of
medicinal plant
jaw- v to fry
je prof any, whichever, whatever
Jeen sanchi morot thyiok. One
day, somebody died. Jemi sanchi
Dibangkongdangaw matsa kakok.
On a certain day, Dibangkongdang
got bitten by a tiger.
jechiba prof anywhere
jekhai adv for example, for
instance, as Rongkhaisang
jalanggaba Thometsangrepha
Rangkhaimadophae nukkhung sot
dokmyng, jekhai Atongsang
balchido nokkhung rum thaman
ganangno. Thometsangrepha
Rangkhaimadopha, who ran away
to Rongkhai, had about sixty
houses, as you would say in
Atong, about sixty houses.
jekjek- v to shake from side to side
jel- v to increase, to multiply, to be
numerous Mahari jela. The family
is big.
jenetene adv somehow Ytyktyimyng
jenetne rajamyng noksang
phetangokno. So then, somehow
they reached the kings house.
jeng n PLANT species of plant
from which brooms are made
jero num zero
jesangba prof wherever,
somewhere Getheng jesangba
reengok. He has gone somewhere.
jesykyn prof Jesykyn nangchi
ganang chynaribo, kamalna.
However much you have, just
offer it to the priest.
jetja n TIME (archaic) May
jineral miting n ACT general
meeting Dakanggabado jineral
by plot.
jingjong- adj1 wiggly, unstable
jingkha ~ jingka ~ sawel ~ sawyl n
PLANT species of vegetable
jingonget- v to shake
jinma n QUANT group, herd
Bajudyranggumukan jinmami
palyngsang sikhal khana
reengwa. All the friends went to
the jungle in a group to hunt.
mongmajinma a herd of elephants
jit- ~ jyt- v to move Rongawan
jitna jamchano. He could not
move the rock, it is said. Hap
pidan rama manokodo jytnaka?
When you have found a new
place, youll immediately move?
jitymryma vtr to roll something
(for the purpose of transporting it)
joba n PLANT Chinese rose
joi- v to drag, to catch (by dragging
a net through the water)
jojong n KIN younger brother. This
word is also used to talk about or
address a related younger male of
your own generation: cousin, to
address a young male unrelated
person younger than the speaker.
jok- v to escape, to be freed, to
come out, to leak out, to jump
because something startled you
Atakna reengwa. Balchachido
tokni, madame. Jora chaiwa.
Sala! mylteng teeuan jora
chaina, roalan jokkhucha! Why
70
did you go? If you dont tell me I

will hit you, said the teacher. I
saw my lover. Damn! You are
still too small now to see your
lover; you have not even finished
primary school yet! Uching
kakaimu thyi jokok. Because he
got bitten by a leech, blood came
out. Naa ie sastiaw rakna
manchido jokangni. If you can
endure this punishment, you will
be freed. Khabakaimyng
wangwachie kynsange: Ai! ido
alsiae kakate! Sokchakate angdo
noaimyng, matsado jenethene
jokaimyng jalangoknoro. After
having grabbed him firmly and
bitten him, the tiger said: Ouch!
This lazy person bites, Im telling
you! and having somehow
escaped, he ran away, it is said.
Robolmi balwa jokok. Air has
leaked out of the football.
jokal n PERS/ART comic strip,
cartoon, anime; a character from
one of these categories
-jokjok evsp V up and down Nekat
kakaimyng, getheng hojokjokwa.
Because he got stung by a bee, he
jumped up and down.
jokruru- v to flow into
Tyikhalmyng tyi badymhachina
jokruruaaidok. The water flows
from the river into the rice field.
jokset- v to drain
-jol evsp V quickly, V accidentally
Bajolwamian khuchuk olna
sapjolariokno. As for his quick
birth, he simply knew how to
speak very quickly, it is said.
Kynsangdo thik ue napite phep
chakoknyngsang galatwae
dangjolangwano. After that, OK,
the barber accidentally fell into a
hole under the banyan tree, it is
said.
jol n GEO area
jol- v to roll up
joljol adv quickly
-joljol evsp V quickly
Jalangjoljolaribo! Just run
quickly!
jolpi n ART bamboo fish trap
jom- v to sneak, to sneak up on
somebody
jomphol n ART hoist, crow bar, pry
bar
jong n KIN younger brother. This
word is also used to address a
younger male cousin or an
unrelated man younger than the
speaker.
jonggi n ART type of fish trap that
has an opening on the op with long
spikes pointing inwards
jongkuri n younger brother
Dykhimi jongkuriawba
bylawmangmangdo chaianchyini
noaimyng, ramchi
jywpengsawaidongano. Dykhis
younger brother is all strength, I
will test him, (the tiger) said and
it was sleeping and blocking the
way while waiting, it is said.
Maybe this word should be spelled
jongkhuri.
jongsyri n KIN brother-in-law:
spouses younger brother
jonja n PERS twin
jonong- ~ jorong- v to dissolve
Chini tyichi jorongok. The sugar
has dissolved in the water.
jora clf classifier for things that
occur in pairs sendel jorasa one
pair of sandals muthai jorasa one
pair of breasts mykren jorasa one
pair of eyes
71
jora n PERS partner, love (person),

match in love
jorong- ~ jonong- v to dissolve
Chini tyichi jorongok. The sugar
has dissolved in the water.
jot- v to prod, to point, to fidget
Jong, naa reengaribo,chaksi
jotetgaba thongthong reengaribo.
Brother, you just go. Just go
straight in the direction of the
finger with which I point.
Waiphinwami gesepchi
baratdugaaimu, wana jywna
baratai, baina tyngna baratai,
nawna baina baratai, dethengdo
danganaan chaithylaisa,
muarongno, gopjyrujyrutykyi.
hasang bamai, chaksi jotai,
chaksi phaiai nemen
chanchiaidongno. In the time
before he returned, having become
very ashamed (when he was
thinking of what his parents would
think of him), when he entered
(his fathers house) he looked
away and looked down, bending
his head, fidgeting with his fingers
and wringing his hands he was in
deep thought, it is said.
jothat- v to prod
jotkhyngkhyng- v to mash
joton n ACT attempt, try joton
kha- to try, to make an attempt
Hanep raina jotong khani. I will
try to go tomorrow.
jotpyryw- v to pierce
juk- v to wink
jul- ~ gul- v to walk through the
jungle with difficulty.
jul n PLACE mine, coalmine
jul- v to jack up, to lift up, to dig up
Rukwakdo pan mylgaba
paiatakaimu rongaw julokno. The
toad took a small stick and jacked
up the stone, it is said.
julai n TIME July
jumang ~ jywmang n ACT dream
Atong jumang nukwa? What did
you dream? / What dream did you
see? Taija walchi jywwachi
jywmangsang banggirigaba
nukwa. Last night at night when I
was sleeping, I saw an earthquake
in my dream.
jumu- v to collect
jun n TIME June
jut- v to encourage Getheng angaw
sakhawkhalna jutwa. He
encouraged me to steal.
juta n ART shoe Teew reenggaba
gawi, longpen kanai juta hilaw
The girl who just went by wearing
heels (Wilseng S Marak)
jyk n KIN spouse
jykjak- v to be noisy, to make noise
jykmong ~ jykmongma n PERS
first wife of a man who has two
wives
jyknyi n PERS widow, widower
jykrat- v to accuse of adultery
jykri ~ jykyryi n PERS widow,
widower
jyksai n PERS husband and wife,
married couple
jyktyi n PERS second wife of a
man who is already married
jykyryi ~ jykri n PERS widow,
widower
jyngjang adj2 dense
jyryk- v to have a nutty taste
-jyryng evsp V daily, V all the time
Gethenge alu kobi habijabi ytykyi
samchakdarangmynggymyn bagan
takwano. Ytykyi phangnan
gethenge uaw
72
chairokjyryngariano, tyi
tytjyryngariano.He made a garden
with potatoes, cabbage and all
sorts of vegetables, it is said. So he
took care of them every day and
watered them every day, it is said.
jyryng jyryng adv always
jyryngnam adv always
jyryp adv quietly jyryp mubo sit
quietly
jyrypet- v to shut somebody up, to
make someone be quiet
jyt- ~ jit- v to move Rongawan
jitna jamchano. He could not
move the rock, it is said.
jyw- v to lie down (both the
movement and the position), to
sleep
jyw ~ jywgaba n KIN mother
jyw n ART a flattened bamboo
used to make mats jywsa one
flattened bamboo damdyl khawsa
one jyw of a damdyl
jywburung n KIN a group of
mothers and daughters
jyw wa n PERS parents
jywbydyi n PERS old woman,
woman with children
jywbythyn- v to lay on your belly
jywgebeng- v to lay on your side
jywkapkap- v to lay on your belly
jywkarang- v to lay on your back
jywmong ~ jywmorong n PERS
the eldest of a group of sisters
jywmrong solkari ~ jywmyrong
sorkar n PERS central
government
jywpara n PERS mothers house,
mothers household
jywri ~ jywryi n PERS child who
lost his mother
jywdap- v to lie on
jywmang ~ jumang n ACT dream
Atong jywmang nukwa? What did
you dream? / What dream did you
see? Taija walchi jywwachi
jywmangsang banggirigaba
nukwa. Last night at night when I
was sleeping, I saw an earthquake
in my dream.
K
=k ~ =ak ~ =ok encl perfective
aspect /change of state Churi
anymore. Nang ie tupi bimi
raak? Where did you get that
cap? Bisang reengok? Where did
she go?
=ka ~ =naka encl imperious future
or certain future Cha rynaimyng,
mai saaimyng, rainaka. After
drinking tea and eating rice, we
will go. .Aia dugaphinok
baisiga! Angaw thogiwado.
Tainido tanchomotchaka anga
gethengaw kakai sanakanookno
pherue. Its too much, friend!
You have betrayed me. Today, I
will certainly not spare him. I will
certainly bite and eat him.
ka- adj1 bitter
kadymbai n BODY chin
kamyn n BODY beard
karan- ~ kharan- v to be thirsty
for Tyiba karanok baisiga
angdo. Ang tyi chosa ryngna. I
am thirsty for water, my friend. I
want to drink a little water.
kasyrak- v to drink from the bottle
(i.e. without using a glass) Tyi
kasyrakai ryngbo. Drink the
water from the bottle!
kawak- v to open your mouth, to
have your mouth open Dada,
73
choisa kawakbone. Elder

brother, open your mouth a little.
Khuthipna harataimyng kawakai
mugabamyng
manamthynggabana sotmai
dumaai pangphinokno. Because
he was so lazy that he did not want
to close his mouth, and because he
sat there with his mouth open,
which stank so much, flies
swarmed into it, it is said.
kabal ~ kabar n ART cover
kabin n ANIM species of big black
ant
kai- v to plant Ha
khynmanwamungsa maisi khita.
Umung abongdarang chala,
dachangdarang chala.
Ytykyimungsa chalmanwa
machotwamungsa mai kaichenga.
Only after collecting the unburnt
remains of the jungle from the
land, we sow millet. Then we plant
maize and we plant dachang.
Then, only after we finish planting
these do we plant/sow rice.
Chachakphang kaiaimu, balwa
sakwa. After planting tea trees, we
enjoyed the wind.
kaithuk n ANIM flee
kak ideo slap! the sound of
something hitting or slapping
kak n ART lid potolkak lid of a
bottle
kak- v to bite Jemi sanchi
Dibangkongdangaw matsa kakok.
On a certain day, Dibangkongdang
got bitten by a tiger. Ang
nangaw kakai sani nowano
pherue. I will bite and eat you, he
said, it is said, the fox.
kak- v to close with a lid
kakdep- v to bite on something
kakhet adv all, very much, really
kakhirok n ANIM head lice, pubic
lice, crabs
kakmyn n BODY antenna (of
insect), feeler
kakpyret- v to crush by biting
kal n ART horn (traditional
instrument)
kaltek ~ kalthek n AMIM species
of big red ant
kala n PERS deaf person
kalai n ART loin cloth
kaljak ~ galjak n ANIM catfish
kalthek n ANIM species of big red
ant
kaltyk n PERS person who never
washes
kam ~ gam n ACT work, wealth,
riches Kam khana harataidong
angdo. Im reluctant to work. Kam
niwa. Worthless. hawai kamai
sagaba someone who works hard
and struggles to survive. Gam
manni udo uan, tangka poisa.
Uan gam mynga, dakangmi
generations called that gam.
money is called gam.
kam- v to clear the field, to cut the
jungle to make a field, to tear out
weeds
kam- v to suffer a penalty
Sakhawgabaaw jurimana kamna
nangni. Thieves have to suffer a
penalty.
kamal n PERS priest
kan- v to wear Teew reenggaba
gawi, longpen kanai juta
hilaw(Wilseng S Marak). The girl
74
who just went by wearing trousers

and shoes with high heels
kan n BODY body (of human)
kan- v to last Bigaba nygylmi
rawa ie? Tyngen kanokte ido.
Angba ytykgaba botolaw
ranichymte. From which market
did you buy this? It lasts very
long. I should buy one such a
bottle too.
kanjot- adj1 slim, skinny, thin (of
person)
kanpeng n BODY side of the body
kana n PERS blind person
kana thetka khjyks/v to drink
(liquor)
kanggal n PERS poor person,
pauper
kangguru n ANIM Kangaroo
kangkang n ANIM species of
edible frog, green with black
spots, which lives in caves and the
hollows of stones at the side of a
river
kangkylek n ANIM species of
lizard with red neck, said to drink
human blood
kantara n PLACE emptiness
kanting- v to tear spontaneously
kap- v to catch, to close
kapangsi n ANIM a clamp
kapkap- v to lie flat on your belly
Ytykyimyng rukpeke rongphelang
sylgabachi kapkapai hynoknowa.
So then the frog presented himself
on a beautiful flat stone lying flat
on his belly, it is said.
kapkung n ANIM snail
kar- v to peel off Abong karai saa
angdo I eat the corn while peeling
off the seeds with my hand.
kara n ART rope, vein
karan n PLANT seed, kernel, fruit
stone
karang n BODY wing
karat ~ karat n ANIM squirrel
karaw n ACT debt, obligation,
trouble Nangdo uaw takchido
karaw mannine. If you do that,
youll be in trouble. Nangaw ang
karaw balni nang angmi bostu
sakhawchido. Ill tell you what
your debt will be if you steal my
things. Gawi bytsyrukai
jalangchido gawimi maharidarang
karaw balni. If you secretly run
away with a girl, her family will
tell you your obligations.
karen n ART electricity San
thamok karen niwa. It has been
three days [and/that] there is no
electricity.
karydyl n PLANT species of liana
(hanging root). It is believed that
at night, when you fall asleep
under a karydyl, it will change into
Ambi Chakkhen.
kata ~ khata ~ katha ~ khatha n
ACT word kata ~ khata ~ katha ~
khatha jywkhynwa to tell long
epic stories during the festival of
chywgyn, one story usually takes
one night or longer to tell. kata ~
khata ~ katha ~ khatha jyksai
coordinate compound that consists
of two synonyms
katha n ART shallow bamboo
basket
katija n TIME (archaic) October
katua ~ khatua n ANIM turtle,
tortoise
kaw n PLANT type of fruit
kaw- v to shoot
kawwarai n BODY gill
kawbipha n PLANT species of tree
75
kawrawraw adv easily, without

effort Ama, angdo mai sanaka.
Ym, kawrawraw gawa, teen
sabo. Mom, I will eat rice.
Yes, that will be easy, eat later.
ke- v to be appropriate Ue chacha
takai kechagaba changbano
mykchaaidonga. Someone might
be fancying someone whom it is
not appropriate for this person to
marry.
keret n CORP gall
kebyl n ART cable
keji clf kilogram, kg
kek- adj1 blunt (of pointed things)
kek n FOOD cake
kek- v to chop wood
kek- v to grow
keko n ANIM species of large
brown tokay gecko with narrow
white stripes on its back and
white-and-brown ringed tail and
brown eyes
kel- v to hide behind or in
something Mykhang baketchi
kelaidong. Shes hiding her face in
a bucket.
kelki ~ khelki n ART window
kemyra n ART camera
kenchi n ART outside rafter: big
beam that runs from the ridge
board to the bottom of the roof on
the outside of the roof and that has
byrym inside rafter as its
counterpart; together they form
part of the support structure of the
roof of a house
kendyl ~ kendel n ART candle
kendyl dot sa one candle
kensi ~ kesi n ART scissors
kep clf classifier for small flat
things biskut kepsa one biscuit
kep n PLACE cave (from English
cave)
kepleplep ~ kepreprep adv
stretched out on your belly
Ytykyimyng teedo amak
gethengdo rong pelang
sylgabachi kepleplep bamai
hyntakkonoa. So then, now the
monkey, as for him, he willingly
lay down stretched out on his belly
on a flat stone, it is said.
kereng n BODY bone
kes ~ ges n ART strut: beam that
runs, as the long side of a
rectangular triangle, between the
manjuri and the gandal in the
structure of a house
keset ~ kheset n ART cassette, tape
kesi ~ kensi n ART scissors
ket- v to be tight Jama keta. The
shirt is tight.
kewa n pineapple
kewal ~ khewal n ART a peddle,
oar khewal phong sa one oar
kha- v to tie Nokbanthai
dokhakhuchi khachapai tangaba
mongmawa dorabyryi dongabaaw
raiai jalangokno. They took the
elephant tusks weighing twenty
kilos which were kept tied to the
dokhakhu of the bachelors house
and ran away, it is said. Angawdo
gorechi chaaw nemen khabone
nookno. As for me, tie my legs
well to the horse, he said it is
said.
kha- adj1 to be salty
kha ideo caw! the call of a black
crow
kha interj interjection to threaten
somebody and to warn that you
might fight, war cry, Beware!
Beware for X! This interjection
precedes a clan name and in some
76
cases the proper name of a

mythical person in a story. Kha
Marak! Beware Marak! This
interjection can also be used
before the clan name of the person
who says it as a way of selfsupport, i.e. Beware of me! Kha
Bandi Goira! noangthiriaidonga
Bandiba. Beware of Bandi and
the god of thunder! Bandi is
saying again, it is said.
kha n ABSTR fighting spirit
Gethengdo kharara taka, angba
kha ganang, gethengnado
kyrecha, takrukarini. He has
fighting spirit, but I also have
fighting spirit, I am not afraid of
him and will just fight with him.
kha- v to be bitter
kha- v to do, to work Kam khani.
I will work. Angna phone
khaetboto! Call me (on the
phone)!
kha- v to pour liquid into a jug
khaat- v to work with, to handle
Getheng koila khaata. He works
with/handles coal.
khadang- vgoal to care for with
great love Ama thyiaimu akai
sagyraina khadanga. After the
mother died, her elder sister took
care of the child with great love.
Nangmi amana kadangai
symsakbo. Take care of your
mother.
khadi n ART clothes
khadong- v to be courageous, to be
hopeful Teewe ningan kyryiphina.
Alsia rajado khadongaria.
Thoroksyrangok una, ningdo
jalgabaak. Now it is us who are
afraid [of him]. The lazy king is
just courageous. He jumped out
[of the banyan tree] and so we
became the ones who ran away.
khadong v to hope
khagal- vgoal to love Ang nangna
khagala. I love you.
khapak- vgoal to miss Ang songna
khapaka. I miss my village.
khapet- v to be angry with Ang
bajuaw khapetaidong. I am angry
with my friend.
khaphak n BODY chest
kharan- ~ karan- v to be thirsty
for Tyiba karanok baisiga
angdo. Ang tyi chosa ryngna. I
am thirsty for water, my friend. I
want to drink a little water.
kharek n PLANT yard long bean,
yardlong bean, also known as the
long-podded cowpea, asparagus
bean, snake bean, or Chinese long
bean. The subspecies name is
sesquipedalis.
kharekrek- v to vomit, to barf
kharongthai n BODY chicken
heart
khasi- v to not like and ignore
Gethengthengrara
gorongrukokno gorongaimyngdo
tedo, khasirukarokno. They met
each other and having met, they
did not like each other and ignored
each other, it is said.
khasin adj2 slowly
khasin-kadym adj2 khjys slow
Uaw badaiangwachian bean bebe
darairaragabasang dolong
khagabachina phetangoknowa,
Badido. Dykhimi balgabatykyi
khasin kadymai reengcha.
Jaljoljolangaidongano. When he
crosses beyond that point, truly
Bandi arrives at a bridge made
entirely out of swords, it is said.
As Dykhi had said, he does not go
slowly. He is running quickly, it is
said.
77
khasop n BODY lung

khasym- v bitter-sweet
khathol n ANIM wattle (of a
chicken)
khathong n BODY heart O chame,
angmi nangna khagalgabaaw
nangmi khathongchi dangetna
manphanima? (Sandish M Sangma) O
sweetheart, will you be able to
insert also my love for you into
your heart?
khawa n PERS lover
khawak khuwak adv with open
mouth Memangma morotma ie
sagyraido? noaimu khawak
khuwak chaisawthokaidongano.
Is that child a ghost or a man?
they said and all were surely
watching him with open mouth, it
is said.
khawak- v to open your mouth
widely, to say aaah
khabak clf as much as the arms can
encompass, an armful
khabak- v to embrace, to grab
firmly as in an embrace Alsia
rajado matsami chaphungaw
wangjoloknoaro.
Khabakaimyng wangwachie
kynsange: Ai! ido alsiae kakate!
Sokchakate angdo noaimyng,
matsado jenethene jokaimyng
jalangoknoro. The lazy king bit
the tiger on the leg, it is said. After
having grabbed him firmly and
bitten him, the tiger said: Ouch!
This lazy person bites, Im telling
you! and having somehow
escaped, he ran away, it is said.
khachol n ANIM species of fish
khadok n ANIM species of fish
khagymyk n ANIM species of fish
khai- v to carry on the back with a
strap tied around the head (like a
basket that is carried on the back
but that has a strap that is put
around the head) Ytykyimyng tedo
gethengthengdo na khynaimyng
baisigathangmaran rukpekba
tangsa, amakba tang sa
khaiaknowa. So then, now, as for
them, having collected the fish, the
frog and the monkey carried one
basket each, it is said.
khaithyi- v to hang oneself Ie
nokchi morot phalthangaw
khaithyiwa. In this house
somebody has hanged herself.
khakhudyl n PLANT species of
plant
khal clf classifier for orifices, holes
and caves hangkhal khalni two
caves nakhungkhalni two nostrils
khal n PLACE hole khalsene seven
holes
-khal sfx intensifier suffix used in
comparative and superlative
constructions, more than, -er as in
bigger, larger and greener, most, est as in biggest, largest, greenest
Mamyngawan nangchawa raja
naa angna nangmyng gore jalna
rakkhalgabaaw hynetaribo
nookno. I dont need anything, o
king, you just give your fastest
running horse, he said, it is said.
Gore jalna rakbebeokno.
Khasinkhalai jalkhalna noaimyng
gadukdukchiba rakkhalai
rakkhalai jalariokno. The horse
ran really quickly, it is said.
Having told it to run slower,
whenever he prodded it with his
legs, it just ran faster and faster, it
is said.
-khal evsp event specifying suffix
used on the non-finite verb in
certain types of causative
imperative clauses. Ang nonoaw
78
nokchi mukhalna balbo. Tell my

younger sister to wait at home.
Ang nonoaw noksang
reeng(cha)khalna pengbo.
Prevent my younger sister to go
home.
khalbong n PERS person who eats
scandalously much
khali adv only, exclusively
khaljong n ANIM species of fish
khalpak n ART belt of a basket
khalput n PERS dirty person
khaltyi n SUBST soda
-kham evsp to V for a long time
kham- vintr to burn, to burn down
Rangsan khama. The sun burns/it
is hot nok khamai the house is on
fire
khambai n PLACE top, upstream
khambykthai n PLANT species of
edible tuber
khamphung n PLANT species of
edible tuber
khampyryw- v to have a hole in a
cloth or paper as the result of
burning
khamthymbylong- v to have a hole
in a road or bridge as the result of
burning Dolong walsang
khamthymbylongok. The fire
burned a hole in the bridge. / The
bridge was damaged by the fire.
khamynkhap n ANIM species of
fish
khan clf classifier for objects like
log boats rung khanni two boats
-khan evsp V in addition, also V
Naa angna messagedarang
watwachi englishsang [sic]
saietbone, ang baju darangba
tyngkhan. When you write
messages to me, write in English,
so that my friends will also know.
(Facebook message from D.S.M. Sangma 5
June2010.) Nang photodarangaw
facebookchi pangai upload

khabota ytykaimung share khabo
ang bajudarang chaikhanna.
Upload many pictures on
Facebook so then I can share
them, my friends can also want
look at them. (Facebook message from
D.S.M. Sangma 4 June2010.)
khan n PLANT cassava, tapioca

khan- v to suckle
khan- v to slaughter, to chop, to
mince, to cut
khanchot- v to cut Nang ang khaw
khanchotbo. Cut my hair.
khanperet- ~ khanpyret -v to
split, to cut open
khana n PLACE port, harbour,
station
khanchot- v to cut (hair)
khang- v to occupy Baidamdo
hawangman/gaba hagun
saangmangaba
harynthangthangaw khanga.
Some people occupy their own
parcel which is already cleared
and used up completely.
khang- v to solidify
khanmynchyw n PLANT species
of edible shrub
khanphyt- v to cut a solid object in
half lengthwise
khanpyrak- v to cut a hollow
object in half lengthwise
khansynen n PLANT species of
edible tuber red on the outside and
white on the inside
khansyrui n ANIM earthworm
khanta ~ khantha tw hour Imi
Dajongchina cha aw reengchido
khantha sa nangni. From here to
Dajong, if you go on foot, takes
one hour.
79
khanthong- v to cut in half

khantongthong- v to cut up in
pieces
khap clf classifier for flat pieces of
hard materials tota khapsa one
plank. tin kahpsa one sheet of
corrugated iron. damdyl khapsa
one damdyl. sorekhap khapni two
pieces of mica.
khap n ART cup, teacup or its
volume, cupful khap goi sa one
teacup khap thaisa one teacup
Cha khap tham hynbo. Give three
cups of tea.
khap n SUBST flat piece of hard
material
khap- v to be cooked without
maityi ~ maiti jabek khapgaba
curry without maityi ~ maiti
khapeng- v to hinder
khara n ART rope
kharok n ANIM species of very
small fish
kharongthai n BODY kidney
Khasi n PERS Khasi
khasi- v to castrate, to remove the
testicles
khasin adj2 slow
khasot clf classifier for bundles
rasun khasotsa a bundle of onions
khat interj interjection to chase a
dog away
khat n CORP ringworm (a fungal
infection)
khat- v to slaughter Biana wak
khatna rawaidonga. We are
catching a pig to slaughter for the
wedding.
khata ~ khatha ~ kata ~ katha n
ACT word kata ~ khata ~ katha ~
khatha jywkhynwa to tell long
epic stories during the festival of
chywgyn, one story usually takes
one night or longer to tell. kata ~
khata ~ katha ~ khatha jyksai
coordinate compound that consists
of two synonyms
khatchi n ART sickle
khatdep- v to wrap, to wrap up, to
fold
chatom clf classifier for bagsful
rasunok khatomsa one bagful of
spring onions
khatua ~ katua n ANIM turtle,
tortoise
-khaw evsp V secretly, V
surreptitiously Arong nokma
chaikhawwachi Arong nokmami
mukhangaw khiemu thyiokno.
When headman Arong looked
surreptitiously, having hit Arongs
face, he died, it is said.
khaw n BODY hair (of the head)
khaw clf classifier for teeth,
planks, sheets of corrugated iron
for roofs and flattened bamboos
used to make mats (jyw) when
they are in a mat, damdyl khawsa
one jyw of a damdyl, wa khawni
two teeth, two tusks (of elephant),
tota khawtham tree planks, tin
khawbyryi four sheets of
corrugated iron
khaw- v to catch water in the
palms of your hands Paipmi tyi
getheng khawaimu ryngok. He
caught the water from the pipe in
his hands and drank it.
khawakwak- v to vomit, to barf
khawcharyng n BODY sideburn
khawchi ~ khawkhai ~ khawkhi n
CORP grey hair
khawchyryng n BODY scalpel hair
khawdam- v to put down
khawkham n ART pillow
khawkhirok n CORP dandruff
80
khawkhuthuk n ART cloth for

men worn around the head
khawphyng n ART turban
khawra n CORP a hair that has
fallen out of the head
khawratcha n PLANT species of
tree
khawsuk n PLACE source of a
river
khe- v to be proper, suitable Nang
mykchagaba biphae khecha. The
boy you fancy is not suitable (to
marry).
khel n ACT care
khele- v to play
khelegaba n ACT game khelegaba
myngsa one game
-khelek evsp V for fun
khelhi ~ kelki n ART window
khem n ART drum (traditional
instrument)
khema n ACT forgiveness
Nangtym angaw wetsado khema
khakhubo. Please forgive me one
more time.
khen- v to scratch Machok kan
panchi khenaronga. A deer is
scratching his body against a tree.
khen n ANIM river crab
khenjasyri n ANIM a river crab
that is walking on the road
khenkhorong n BODY claws of a
crab
kheng- v to be alive
khengchek adj2 green, blue
khengkhang adj2 eternal
khengsyryk adj2 dark green
khengwa n ACT life
khep ~ khup ~ khyp- v to close, to
cover, to spread out, to put on
clothes
-khep evsp V firmly Rawkhepbo!
Hold it firmly!
khep- v to cry
khep- v to pinch, to cut with
scissors Rongkhalchi khonokaimu
khen chak khepok. When I felt
under the stone, a river crab
pinched my hand.
khep- v to wicker a bamboo mat
(damdyl)
khereng- v to resist, to struggle, to
make a great effort Ta wat! Ta
wat! noaimyng bawensene
bawenaimyng thopangaidongano,
tungangaidongano. Bandi
kherengwachido tawsagyrai
watwa watwatykyi dymbyra
dymbyra takangaidongano. Dont
let him get away! Dont let him
get away! they said, and they
ganged up on him in seven circles,
it is said. When Bandi resisted, the
crowd broke up and they scattered
like chicks, it is said. Matsa
kherengwachido
wachungbyryidarangdo
thangaaidonga Bandiba. Bandi
kherengwachido wachubyryi
wawa wawa thangasigaaidoknote.
When the tiger struggled, it threw
Bandi four bamboo lenthgs away.
When Bandi struggled, he threw
the tiger four bamboo lengths
away.
khet v to be stuck
khet- v to tie the cloth in which you
carry a baby (basek)
khewal ~ kewal n ART a peddle,
oar khewal phong sa one oar
khi- v to count
khi- v to hit (a target), to touch
Myngsa them! Khawoknotyi.
Khianchano. One person shot,
pow! He did not hit it, it is said.
81
khiil n ART nail (iron) khiil chong

sa one iron nail.
khil n ART bamboo strip that is
used to tie beams together
khingcheng adj2 aslant, slant
khirip ~ kyiryp n PLANT species
of edible plant of which the leaves
are mashed and dried and then
cooked to a pulp
khit- v to sprinkle, to sow seeds
Hakhynmanwamungsa maisi
khita. Only after collecting the
unburnt jungle material from the
land, we sow millet.
khok- v to remove (skin, bark, peel,
dress etc.)
khokalang n PERS bold person
khol n BODY skin (of human,
animal or plant), hide (of animal),
scale (of fish) masukhol cowhide, cow-skin
khol num twenty
kholchang num twenty, used only
in compound numerals
kholchangbyryi rongni eighty two.
kholechyi ~ kolachi num thirty
khole num twenty. This word is
only used in compound numerals
kholerongsa twenty one.
kholgyk ~ kholgryk num twenty.
The variant kholgryk is a loan
from Garo but is used
overwhelmingly more frequently
than kholgyk.
kholjisop n CORP infection of the
inner ear, labyrinthitis
kholthyrai- v to shed skin, to come
off (of skin) Rangsan khamaimu
ang nakhung kholthyraiok. After
the sun burnt it, the skin on my
nose came off.
khom- v to sit with your head in
your lap and your legs pulled up
khomchuk- v to bend over
=khon encl/prtcl speculative
modality enclitic or particle
Rangsan rangbyrymaidonga,
wainikhon. The sun is blocked by
clouds, it might rain. Nang ama
nygylsang reengwama?
Hoong, khon. Did your
mother go to the market? Yes,
maybe.
khonchi n CORP leprosy khonchi
manok ~ khonchi saak to have
leprosy
khong- v to bark
khonok- v to search by feeling Ichi
rongkhalchi khen ganangthel
mangsa mangnido,
ganangthelnaba ganang. Hai,
nang usang khonokbo ang isang
khonoknaka. Here in these holes
under the stones there are crabs for
sure. Lets go, you feel and search
over there and I will feel and
search over here.
khophynga n ART cloth for
women worn on the head with a
knot at the back of the head
khopja n ART hinge
khoppalak ~ khoppylak n
PLANT/ANIM (1) the husky skin
of an onion, garlic, corn etc. (2)
skin or peel of fruit (3) eggshell
khorat n ART a saw
khori n ART watch
khorop- v to break (only used for
bamboo) wa khoropok the
bamboo is broken.
khorot n ART a saw
khoryndachong n ANIM silkworm
khosylak n CORP abrasion
=khu encl (1) incompletive aspect
(2) polite imparative Angdo
sawamigymyn teewrawrawdo
82
reengna mankhuchaaidonga. I
cannot yet go go school because of
my illness. Saakma sakhucha?
Have you eaten already or not yet?
Saaidongkhua. Im still eating.
Mai sakhubo! Eat more rice!
Baba, angna tangka ratjani
hynkhu. Dad, please giev me two
hundred rupees.
khrukhru ideo roo-koo! the call of
a pigeon
khubisi- v to hate, to dislike
khucheng- v to bite your teeth
firmly together Ytykyimyng
pherudo rypangthiriokno.
Phalthang sokwa dabatdo
tyinyngchi rongchi pyiaimyng
wa khuchengphinai
sakchikaidokno. So then the fox
soaked in the water again, it is
said. Until he could not hold out
any longer, he sat under water as
long as he could bear it, holding
on to a stone and biting his teeth
firmly together, it is said.
khuchi- v to dislike Mongma ranai
sana ang khuchia. I dont like to
eat elephant meat.
khuchit n CORP harelip
khuchuk n BODY/ART mouth,
language
khuchul n BODY lip
khuhamgaba n ART grammar
khuma n PERS dumb person,
someone who cannot speak
khumong- v to conspire Ramchi
hampyi nanangdo watchaka
gethengawdo, sala! Gethengaw
watkhuna sootthelarinaka noai
khumongangokno. This evening
we will seize him on the road, the
bastard! We will kill him after all
to banish him once more, they
conspired freely, it is said.
khurang n CORP voice
khurasak- v to promise. Rongdyng
maharimu Jaksongram
matsanokphandaimi matsamu
takrukaisa Rongdyng
maharidyrange dokra Habeng
khungsa ripan patsai sympak
khungsa hynnaka noyi
khurasakokno. Because the
Rongdyng family fought with the
tigers from the bachelors house of
Jaksongram, the Rongdyng
families promised to give one
Habeng bag, one womans dress
and one sleeping mat, it is said.
khusak- v to answer, to reply, to
respond
khusep n BODY corner of the
mouth
khusum ~ kusum n ANIM
tortoise
khusylip ~ khusylyp- v to whistle
khusymang n BODY facial hair,
beard, moustache
khuthikhuthyraiga(ba) n
mumbling
khuthym- v to kiss
khutip- v to close your mouth
Hongkhotphinna manchaaimyng
khuthipwachie sotmai mangsene
mansymokno. Not being able to
come out again, when he closed
his mouth, he swallowed the seven
flies, it is said.
khutyi ~ khuti n CORP spit,
spittle, saliva khutyi thandapai
bala to speak with a lot of spittle
khutyisot- v to spit
khuchia n ANIM species of fish
khuchina n ANIM eel
khudal ~ kudal ~ wakhu n ART
hoe, chopper
83
khueng n PERS person with a

crooked mouth
khugyri ~ koksi n ART small
basket made of bamboo and reed.
khugyri is the Badri word; koksi is
said in Sijyw.
khul n ART pillow stuffing
khuli n FOOD opium
khuli- v to open
khung clf classifier for flat things
(and photos even when displayed
on a computer screen) tangka
khungsa one banknote piktiyr
khungsa one photograph, picture
khung n BODY shell of a crab,
tortoise etc., carapace
khup- ~ khep- ~ khyp- v to close,
to cover, to put on clothes
khuru clf length from the top of the
thumb to the top of the middle
finger when one puts ones hand
down on the table on these points
khurung adj2 wanting to lay an egg
khurung n PLACE a chickens nest
khurut v to perform an incantation
to determine which spirit makes
someone ill. Prototypically
associated noun: wai
khurut- v to perform an
incantation, to summon a spirit
khurutgaba n PERS someone who
performs an incantation to
determine which spirit makes
someone ill.
khusi dong- ~ dong- v to be happy
Gethengtheng khusi
dongthamakaimyng gore
dimaichi phalthang chak diriga
sangwalaimyng watokno. They
were so excessively happy that
they forgot their own hands which
were holding the horses tail and
they let go, it is said.
khutai n top (of a house)
khyi- adj1 sour
khym- v to marry Ue alsia rajae
jykba myngni khymanoro. That
lazy king married two wives, it is
said.
khymbal n PLANT species of tree
khymgaba n PERS spouse
khymkhalymphong n PLANT
species of tree
khyn- v to pick up, to gather, to
collect, Tyipaichi sukyrung khynok
ningdo. We have gathered river
snails in the Tyipai river. Sawaisa
Hakhamchachido hakhynchenga,
hakhynmanwamungsa maisi
khita. After burning the jungle, if
the land is completely burnt, it is
not necessary to collect the
remaining unburnt jungle material.
If the land is not burnt, we collect
the unburnt jungle material from
the land first, only after collecting
it, we sow millet.
-khyngkhyng adv still, continuing
Ue habyriawe teewchina
khyngkhyng Atong khuchuksang
Matsa Chawkyi Asetram
myngwano. We call that mountain
up till now still Matsa Chawkyi
Asetram in the Atong language, it
is said. Angdo teewrawrawdo
isykynmi dukna khyngkhyngdo
nemai muphaaidonga. I am still
well despite my continuing
suffering.
khyntyri n ART (1) the wooden
beam running over the top of the
roof of a house, comparable to a
ridge board. (2) purlin (other
speakers call purlins wakhaw)
-khynyng evsp to V into pieces Ang
randaiaw dadakkhynyngok. I
84
have cut the meat into small

pieces.
khyp- ~ khup- ~ khep- v to close,
to cover, to put on clothes
khyp- v to take a bite
khyryithang ~ khyrythang n KIN
nephew
khyryithangsyw n KIN greatnephew / grand-nephew: the son
of my husbands sisters daughter
khyryk n ANIM louse (plural: lice)
khyw- v to drain, to shake out fluid
kilip ~ kylip n ART clip
kilomytyr clf kilometre
kingreng kingcheng adv like a
chicken without a head, like crazy
Thot thyngthot takwachina dabat
sykromaimyng
khanetsigaaidongno. Bandi
chakwatwamian chuwil chuwal
takjolangokno. Taw tokai
watetwatykyi usang kingreng
usang kingcheng takjoletarioknoti.
He (Bandi) grasped her (Sore)
and poured the liquor into her
mouth to the last drop. When
Bandi let go of her, her head was
spinning. Like letting go of a
beheaded chicken she ran around
like a chicken without a head.
kirin adj2 to be torn (of cloth and
paper)
kirin- vintr to tear Longpen kirinok.
The trousers are torn.
kitap n ART book
klas n PLACE class Ando klas wan
mangmangsaan
dongphaarikhuwa. I have only
gotten as far as class one.
korot n PLANT sugarcane
kobi n PLANT cabbage
koila n SUBST coal
koilagari n ART coal truck
kok n ART basket
kokalang n PERS a bold person
kokbal n ART enormous basket
made of bamboo and used to store
rice and vegetables in the kitchen.
kokcheng n ART type of basket
made of bamboo carried on the
back with a strap around the head,
smaller than a koktang
kokdam ~ koktang n ART big
basket made of bamboo used to
carry goods and worn on the back
with a strap from the head.
Kokdam is said in Badri, koktang
in Siju
koke n ANIM species of large
gecko that lives in trees
kokpylak n PLANT chaff
koksep n big woven bamboo cage
used to keep chicken in when they
are sold on the market
koksi ~ khugyri n ART small
basket made of bamboo and reed.
koksi is the Sijyw word; khugyri is
said in Badri.
koktang ~ kokdam n ART big
basket made of bamboo used to
carry goods and worn on the back
with a strap from the head.
Kokdam is said in Badri, koktang
in Siju.
Kol India n PLACE Coal India
kol n ACT telephone call Kol
khabo! Call her/him/them!
kolachi ~ kolechyi num thirty
kolachita n PLANT Momordica
charantia, bitter gourd, bitter
lemon
kolani n PLACE colony
kom- v to feel like a loser Angdo
barataimyng komok. Me, being
ashamed, I felt like a loser.
kombol n ART blanket
85
komok- v to feel insulted

kompiutyr n ART computer
komputer n ART computer
kompyl ~ kongpyl adj2 to be bent
kun kompyl a bent stick/the stick
is bent
komyla n PLANT orange
kon adj1 winding
kong- v to have rabies
kongkenaken adv zigzag, winding
konglarong adj2 orange
kongpyl ~ kompyl adj2 to be bent
kun kompyl a bent stick/the stick
is bent
kongtoksi n PERS used in the
expression halsia kongtoksi lazy
person (pejorative)
kontrektyr n PERS contractor
kopi n FOOD coffee
kopja n ART a hinge
koplak n BODY egg shell
korea n ART big metal pan
korok num six
korong ~ kyrong n BODY horn (of
an animal)
koros n ACT expenses
korot ~ khorot n ART a saw
kri postp in accordance with,
according to Gam manni udo uan,
tangka poisa. Uan gam mynga,
dakangmi chasongdo. Teewsa
kepasyti noai myngaidonga.
Chasongna kri gam myngariaro,
tangka poisa. He will obtain
wealth, money. Earlier generations
called that wealth. Now they call
it capacity. According to my
generation this money is called
wealth. morotna kri hapna kri
according to the person, according
to the place
krimichong n ANIM parasitic
worm that lives in the bowels
krismas n TIME Christmas
kristan ~ kristen n PERS Christian
krrrrr ideo the sound of someone
smoking viciously
krymkraw adv together, in unison,
in co-operation
kusum ~ khusum n ANIM
tortoise
kudal ~ khudal ~ wakhu n ART
hoe, chopper
kukuri n ART dagger, type of knife
with a blade with an obtuse angle
used to survive in the jungle
kulal ~ kular ~ kural ~ kurar n
ART axe
kuli- v to open
kulthuk ~ kyltyk n PLANT species
of tree that has red hairy beans as
fruits. When you eat the seeds of
the beans you get sleepy.
kuma n PLANT species of tree
kun- adj1 curly
kun clf classifier for stick-like
things nokwek kunbanga five
brooms
kun n ART a stick
kung- vintr to be dammed up, to be
enclosed by a dam or circle of
stones
kural ~ kular ~ kulal ~ kurar n
ART axe
kutuuukutukutuk interj
interjection to call a dog
kyi n ANIM dog
kyiwa n BODY canine teeth
kyimang n ANIM fruit fly
kyiryp ~ khirip n PLANT species
of edible plant of which the leaves
are mashed and dried and then
cooked to a pulp
86
kyisym- adj1 salty

kykgul n BODY eyelid
kykulwil n PERS person who has
an ear infection and has lost his
balance
kyl- v to hide, to avoid
kylchap n PLANT cotton
kylip ~ kilip n ART clip
kyltuk n PLANT species of tree
which, in the dry season, brings
forth bunches of bright red and
yellow beans with black seeds.
The seeds, when eaten, make you
sleepy.
kyltyk ~ kulthuk n PLANT species
of tree that has red hairy beans as
fruits. When you eat the seeds of
the beans you get sleepy.
kymbal n PLANT species of tree
kymkha n PLANT species of berry
kymkhalongphong n PLANT
species of plant
kyn n BODY back Ang nangaw
kyn kyn symni. I will follow you
closely.
kynbyret adv backwards, reverse
motion kynbyret raibo move
back!
kyndam n PLACE land behind a
village
kyngjung- v to turn your back to
someone Angsang kynjungbo.
Turn your back to me.
kynjung- v to make an about turn
kynkom- v to be old and crooked
kynkongbang n SUPER woman
ghost without back
kynkyreng n BODY spine
kynokhol n KIN son-in-law:
desceased testators son-in-law
kynpha- ~ kympha- v to be last, to
be late Ie sagyraido kynphaai
phetdangok. This child arrived
last. Somai kynphaak. It was
already late.
kynphak- v to sleep in. Rang
wawamigymyn manapchi
kynphakwa. Because of the rain I
slept in this morning.
kynsang dtw later afterwards,
Kynsangdo jywchangna
nangokno. Uchie jywchangna
nangwachie matsa
gorongtatoknotyi, maikapchi
jywwachi. Kynsangdo matsado
morotsyn manaimyng raiwilokno
alsia rajado. Later he had to stay
the night somewhere, it is said.
Then, when he needed to stay the
night, he met a tiger when he was
sleeping on the hay, it is said.
Later, after the tiger had smelled
the scent of a human, it walked in
circles, it is said, around the lazy
king.
kynsang n PLACE behind
nokapmyng kynsang behind the
door
kynsang postp Ytykyimyng walchi
raiaphyinokno. Raiaphinaisa
beanbebe phalthangmyng nokaw
gethengdo masu dimyng
phirinaimyng ue sona
bichamchymaw nok ryphiokno.
Nok ryphiwamyng kynsangdo
teew getheng nokawan alaga
morotdyrangdo tengchypchypai
nukariokno. So then he came back
at night, it is said. Having come
back, having mixed it with cow
dung, he plastered his house with
the golden flakes, it is said. After
plastering his house now, other
people saw how his house was
shiny, it is said. Rang
nemchengama nanang chyw
jamchenga noai rangmu chyw
87
ryngsusaai chyichie, range san

chibri wawano. Umi kynsang san
khole san sa chyw ryngkhuanowa.
Will the rain stop first or will we
finish our liquor first? they said
and while competing in drinking
with the rain, the rain fell for
fourteen days, it is said. Thereafter
they still drank liquor for twenty
one days, it is said.
Phetangaidokno, dongaidoknotyi,
sane san chidok wal chidok
reengwami kynsangsa. He has
arrived, it is said, the has reached
his destination, to our surprise, it is
said, after going for sixteen days
and sixteen nights.
kyp- v to fit tightly, to fit and close
off
kyrewami ~ kyriwami n ABSTR
danger
kyrong ~ korong n BODY horn (of
an animal)
kyrurua vintr to roll (by itself)
kyrydyl n PLANT species of liana
that looks like a long arm with
elbow joints as it hangs between
trees. It changes to ambi chakkhen
at night, an old lady with long
arms and hands with long nails.
She will ask you to scratch her
long arms, and when you refuse,
she will scratch you to death with
her long nail.
kyryi n ABSTR fear
kyryi- vgoal to be afraid of Ang
mongmana kyryia. I am afraid of
elephants.
kyryiwa n ABSTR fear Bil! Bil!
Ningdo nangaw phina
raiwachym! nookno. Uchie Bile:
Atakna? nookno. Ytykyimyng
phina reenggabadyrangba
kyryiwa ganang. Bil! Bil! We
have come to invite you! they
said, it is said. Then Bil said:
Why? it is said. So then in turn,
the ones that came to ask were
afraid.
kyryk- v to be clear, transparent
-kyrym evsp to V in a group Taw
dangkyrymangok, tawnokchi.
The chickens have all entered their
coop.
kyrymkyraw adv united, together,
in cooperation
kyryng- adj1 tight Usang, songga
Manggagremi banthaidarangba
raiaaithokaidongano,
Rakarelwakmadare,
Aragundi, Motbanda,
Asyngduraparaba gumukan
raiathokaidongano. Chakphong
gylgabasano, kara
khyrynggabararasano,
alamylachagabasano. They are all
coming to there, the young man
from the strange village of
Manggare: Rakarelwakmadare,
Aragundi, Motbanda,
Asyngduraparaba, they are all
coming, it is said. They are men
with strong arms and tight veins
all over, it is said, they are not
ordinary men, it is said.
kyryng- v to make noise, to make a
sound
kyrynggaba n ACT sound, noise
kyryngwa n ACT sound, noise
kyryw n ART thin strip of bamboo
used to make rope, bamboo rope
kyrywkeng n ANIM parasitic
worm that lives in the flesh of
animals and humans. It is believed
that when a kyrywkeng is crossing
the road, and a pragnant woman
88
steps over it, she will have a

miscarriage.
kyw interj I am here! (answer to a
search call)
L
laha n SUBST resin
lain clf classifier for a collection of
objects lined up on shelves
laisak n PLANT cabbage
laisen n ART licence
lait n GEO/ART light
laklak- v to prod in an orifice or
hole for pleasure, to nag
-langlang evsp very saklanglang
very red
lap n ACT profit, interest, gain,
value Hagylsakaw chol takai
chyichiba nangaw khymaido
angdo mamyng lap niokte. When
you try all sorts of small jobs, it
will not benefit me to be married
to you.
lap- v to gain, to make profit, to be
profitable Ang taisa rajasa
lapokchym, thyiok. I just made a
hundred rupees profit but I lost the
game. Atakgaba raja naa angna
gore lapchagabaaw watetwa
nookno. What kind of king are
you to send me a worthless
horse? he said, it is said.
lapan n PLANT pan/paan leaf
lapchagaba n PERS a good-fornothing
lapchagaba unprofitable, worthless,
good-for-nothing
las n ABSTR the last one
lathia n ANIM species of fish
law n PLANT cucumber-like
vegetable
lechu n PLANT lychee
lekadawreng n ART kite
lekat- v to waste time Naa mai
sywkhalna balwachymte. Naa
teewchinaba lekataidongkhua.
You said that you would pound
some more rice. Until now you
have been waisting time and you
are still wasting time.
lekha n ART book, paper
lekhaphul ~ getphul n PLANT
bougainvillea
leklek- v to prod in an orifice or
hole
leng n CORP bronchitis leng
manok to have bronchitis
lengla adv crippled
lepstik n ART lipstick
letrin n PLACE toilet
lityr clf litre
lolal n ART road roller
longpen n ART a pair of pants,
trousers, long pants, long trousers
Teew reenggaba gawi, longpen
kanai juta hilaw (Wilseng S Marak)
The girl who just went by wearing
heels longpen khung sa a pair of
pants, trousers, long pants, long
trousers
loskor n PERS highest rank in the
system of customary law of the
Garos, judge
lukchok ~ rukchok n ANIM
species of frog
lukchokchok n ANIM species of
small gecko that creeps up the
walls of houses at night
lukpekpek ~ rukpek n ANIM
species of frog
lukwak ~ rukwak n ANIM toad
lyp adv gollop, eat all at once lyp
takai saa
89
M
mm ~ hmm procl no
ma- v to lose Sunglas palyngchi
maak angdo. I lost my sunglasses
in the jungle.
=ma encl/prtcl (1) interrogative
enclitic (2) or Ie ma ue? This one
or that one? Nangba reengnima?
Will you be going too?
ma inter okay, okay then, (very)
well then (Nepali) Ytykchido ang
reengsigama nangmi phal?
(Thengthone) Ma ytykchido
dengbo nooknoro. (The Nepali)
But shall I go instead of you?
(Thengthon) Very well then, in
that case, it will be most
convenient, untie my hands, he
said, it is said.
maam- v to moan
maang- vintr to set (of the sun)
Rangsan maanga. the sun sets.
machot- v to be an orphan
marek n ANIM when this bird
sings, you know that someone will
visit the village
masu n ANIM cow
masubolot n ANIM ox
masugari n ART bullock cart
masutandam n PLACE place
where cows are slaughtered
machak- v to be vengeful Ang
nangaw machakaidonga I am
vengeful towards you.
machirit- v to scratch, to be
scratched
machok n ANIM species of large
deer, maybe sambar deer
machong n PERS woman who is
the founder of a clan or village
machot- vphase to finish, to end, to
stop Mongmaaw chaina sawa
machotok. I stopped eating to look
at the elephant.
madam n PERS female teacher
madong n PERS somebody who
has married a person from the
same mahari as themselves.
magachak n ANIM barking deer
magal n ANIM species of fish
magana- v to lose Amakan
raiakaimuna: Mykhangba syma
dymbrubru. Dimaiba rawa
dymbrubru noaimuna
balatakokno. Rasong
manatakarokno haiaw
dawkhaaw, amakansega. Uchido:
Hoong, hoong, aak! aak!
noatakarongnote. Uchie byk
galatokno rutido. Uawdosega
pherusa kakkhypaimu saakno.
Ytykyimuna kynsangdo dawkhado
maganaak, sana mananchakno.
The monkey came: Your face is
black and shiny and you have a
black and shiny tail. he said, it is
said. The crow became proud
because of the monkey, it is said.
Then the crow said: Yes, yes!
Caw! Caw! it is said. Then the
bread fell down, it is said. The fox
then grabbed it with its mouth and
ate it, it is said. And so the crow
had lost its bread and could not eat
it anymore, it is said.
magyna adv in vain
mahari n PERS relatives, family,
clan. Among the Garos, there are
five maharis: Sangma, Marak,
Momyn (Hachyk spelling
Momin), Sira and Areng
mai ~ mei n TIME May
90
mai ga- v to thresh the rice with

your feet so as to separate the
grains from the ores
mai n PLANT/FOOD rice mai sylaor maidan syla- to celebrate the
after-harvest festival
mai syla- v to celebrate the afterharvest festival
maibyram n CORP cracks in the
skin of the cheek
maicheng n PLANT edible shrub
with scented (nice smelling) leaves
and soft thorns, (maybe related to
Zanthoxylum oxyphyllum)
maido n PLANT species of
creeper plant
maiin n PLANT species of plant
maikerep n PLANT species of
plant
mairaja n TIME (archaic)
December
maityi ~ maiti n FOOD juice
from jabek
maiwek n ANIM species of bird
that is believed to call every time
somebody comes to visit the
village
maichek~ maichyk n FOOD cold
rice
maidan n PLANT new rice (just
harvested) Mai mynokodo maidan
syla thoka. When the rice is ripe,
we celebrate the new rice festival.
maidan syla thok- v to celebrate
the after-harvest festival
maidu n PLANT species of plant
maigasam n FOOD meal eaten in
the later part of the day or evening,
dinner
maiguru n PLANT species of rice
from which beer is made for the
chywgyn festival
maijyk ~ maimijyk n ANIM
dragonfly
maijyreng n FOOD leftovers of
cooked rice dried in the sun used
to feed the pigs
maikap n PLANT hay
maikhol n PLANT the skin of a
grain of rice
maikholnang n PLANT unpeeled
rice
maikhoppylak ~ maikhoppalak n
PLANT stalks left over after
threshing rice
maikhyt n FOOD burned rice
maikung n ACT second rice
harvest (in November)
maimanap n FOOD meal eaten in
the morning, breakfast
maimijyk ~ maijyk n ANIM
dragonfly
mainyl n PLANT/FOOD sticky rice
mainym clf length from the elbow
to the top of the fist
maip ~ mep n ART map
maipalak ~ maipylak n PLANT
stalks left over after threshing rice
mairong n PLANT husked rice,
uncooked rice
mairongkholnang n PLANT
unhusked rice
mairugu ~ meringgu ~ meringgaw
~ merenggaw n PLANT
mushroom (edible)
mai sa- vpan to eat Mai saakma?
Have you eaten already?
maisan n FOOD meal eaten in the
middle of the day, lunch
maisen n FOOD sticky rice in a
banana leaf
maisi n PLANT millet
maityk n ART pot for cooking rice
91
maiwa ~ maiwa n PLANT

bamboo shoot maiwa ~ maiwa
ching sa one bamboo shoot
maja dtw the day before yesterday,
some time ago, a few days ago, in
the recent past Angdo maja 13
tarikchi chaphang phang 99 ang
nok rygynchi kaiok. A few days
ago, on the 13th, I planted 99 tea
plants behind my house.
mejistret n PERS magistrate
makbul n ANIM bear
makja nTIME (archaic) January
mal- v to be familiar, easy to deal
with
mama n KIN uncle: mothers
brother. This word is also used to
address an unrelated man older
than the speaker in a respectful
way, and to address my father-inlaw.
mamung ~ mamyng n ABSTR
nothing Atong dywwa ama?
nookno. Hy? Niwate baba, anga
mamungawan dywanchate. Uan
phywramu haie garutara
dywariwate. Mamung
dywanchate nookno. What did
you add, mother? he said. Huh?
Nothing, my son; I have added
nothing, Im telling you! I just
added that rice powder and those
uh mustard leaves. I added
nothing, she said. Ning
songsyrekdo, ning Atongdo
dakangdo mamyng thorom
We heathens, we the Atongs, in
the past, in a time when there was
no religion, we worshiped spirits.
mamylet n FOOD omelette
man n ABSTR respect Gethengaw
man rana nanga. You have to
respect him.
man- v to climb
man- v to crawl, to creep Khyryk
khawchi manaidonga. Lice are
crawling in my hair. Atongbatykyi
gasokok aksokok
hungthamakaimuna saphawba
hakhungchina mangatokno.
Somehow the rabbit, stumbling
and barely swimming, crawled
onto the river bank, it is said.
-man~ -man evsp already V-ed
samanok ~ samanok already
eaten
man- vB to be able, to get, to
obtain, to succeed manai sa- to
eat in great amounts, to be rich
Sagyrai raina mana. The child
can walk manai in great amounts
Morot bilding chunggabachi
mugaba manai saak. The man
who lives in that big house is rich.
Uchian magachakdo biskutaw
mana mana mana mana mana
saaidokno. Then the deer ate the
biscuits in great amounts, it is said.
Ang baju kam manok My friend
got work/a job. Kawbutungchi thik
thokyrengaw manokno. When he
shot [the giant eagle] he got it
exactly in the neck.
manai adv in great amounts, see
manmandapami ~ mandapwami n
ACT profit, interest, gain
mandyk- adj1 difficult,
complicated, troublesome Angdo
gylgylrongchawanasa teew
nokchi rang waaimu kam khana
haratok, mandykok kam khana.
As for me, precisely because I
usually roam around now that it is
raining, Ive become reluctant to
work; its very difficult to work.
Alternatively: It has become
difficult to work.
92
mansymrukruk- v to inherit
manak- adj1 dark
manam- adj1 to stink Di manama.
Shit stinks.
manam n ACT bad smell, stench
manap tw morning Wal
thywwamigymyn ang manapchi
jywchepwa. Because I went to
sleep late at night, I slept alone in
the morhing.
manap- v to be morning
Manapok. It has become morning.
Manapnaka. It will soon be
morning.
manapmi adv very early in the
morning Kynsangdo manapmi
sirimynmyn reengaimungna
Dabatwarisang dinggarai saiakno.
Then, having gone to Dabatwari
very early in the morning at the
break of dawn, [he] put up his fish
traps, it is said.
mandal n PLANT erithrina
superosastricta, species of tree
with thorns and very red flowers
which blossom in the late part of
the dry season
mang- clf classifier for animals,
knives and tools bythyi mangsa
one porcupine chawkyi ~
changkui mangsa one big knife
mangcha n SUPER a ghost that is a
corps risen from the dead
manggisi n PERS corps, dead body
Thymanggami manggisiaw synai
tanok. We have laid the dead
persons corps on the bed.
manggywak n ANIM millipede
mangka n ANIM species of fish
mangkhrang ~ mangkhram n
ANIM scorpion
mangkhung n ANIM species of
cricket
mangkung n ANIM cricket
(generic name for the species)
mangkyrang ~ mankyrang n
ANIM scorpion
-mangmang evsp only, just,
exclusively, continuously, as best
you can, barely, shoddily. This
suffix also indicates that the action
was done poorly or negligently, or
not fully as it was supposed to be
done. Ue morote hangkhal sawai
tangka bisylaw gopanchanoro.
Sam tanaimyng alamyla ytykyi
samaw gopmangmangariwanoro.
That man did not bury the coins in
a hole dug in the ground. He just
put some grass over them, like
that; he shoddily buried them only
in grass.
=mangmang encl only, just,
exclusively, even This enclitic
indicates an emotion of
annoyance, anger, apology or
disappointment, resentment or
disbelief on the part of the
speaker. Teewmangmangsa
tyiruwa naa. I only just now took
a bath. Ytykyimuna bunduk
raaimuna matsaaw kawna
noaimuna nisanaroknotyi.
Matsado uchi byk hoai
jalangokno. Ytykyimuna Sala!
Kyregamangmang matsa!
noaimuna reengarokno. So he
took his gun to shoot the tiger and
aimed. The tiger quickly jumped
and ran away. So then he said:
Damn! Cowardly tiger! and left.
Angna mamyngawan
nangchawa. Ytykchiba naa angna
myngsamangmangaw takbo
nookno. I dont need anything.
But you have to promise me only
one thing, he said.
bylawmangmang
chakawmangmang all strength and
93
musle. Teawba ue myngsa kam

khana haratgaba aro ytykyian
jywai muwai somaidyrangaw
raietthiriano. Maimangmangaw
sanaan uawe gawigabasa
khutipetna nangphinano. Now, he
is very reluctant to do work, and
so he spends his time sleeping and
sitting. Even when he eats, his
wife has to close his mouth.
mangneng- v to whine, to quarrel
Ytykyimu isangdo jykdo sado,
sado jongdo mai okhiaimu
mangnengaidokno
mangnengaidokno. Babado biba
rainaka?" noaidokno.So then at
home, because they got hungry,
his wife and children are whining
and whining, it is said. When is
dad coming back? they are
saying, it is said.
mangnengruk- v to quarrel
mangsong- v to plan
mani n KIN aunt: fathers sister.
This word is also used to address
your mother-in-law.
mani- v to worship Ning
songsyrekdo ning atongdo
dakangdo mamyng thoromaw
We heathens, we the Atong, in the
past, in times when there was no
religion, we worshipped spirits.
manjuri ~ manjyri n ART
supporting post for a house or
other such structure, king stud
mankyrang ~ mangkyrang n
ANIM scorpion
manram- v to crawl
mansylang n BODY spleen
mantaw n PLANT species of gourd
mantawbylati n PLANT tomato
mantawthai n PLANT type of
vegetable
=maran encl reciprocal, a
reciprocal relationship between
two or more persons Ytykyimyng
baisigathangmaran tyi
dukungokno. So then, the friends
dammed up the water. Teewdo
saduthangmaran myngtham
ganangno. Now, there were three
men whose wives were sisters, it is
said.
marirang n PLANT species of
plant
mars n TIME March
marudyl n PLANT/SUPER species
of liana that turns into a ghost that
makes a loud noise of rummaging
through the jungle, breaking
branches and trees. But when you
look in the morning, there are no
broken branches and trees. The
noise is so loud and frightening,
that when you are within a
hundred metres of this ghost, you
cannot sleep. When you cut a
marudyl, a blood-like, red liquid
comes out.
mastel n PERS male teacher
mat n ANIM wild animal
mat n CORP a wound
mat- v to be sharp, to (be able to)
wound, to (be able to) cut kukuri
matanchak the dagger isnt sharp
anymore. chawkyi ang chaaw
matwa. The knife cut my hand.
cha matok my hand is cut.
matdam n ANIM otter
matdi n ANIM wild water buffalo
mathai n ANIM bachelor elephant,
solitary male elephant
matji ~ maji n PLACE middle Ang
Sandishmyng Bittermyng matjichi
matpalyng n ANIM wild animal
matrong n ANIM jungle goat
94
matsa n ANIM tiger

matsadu n SUPER creature which
is human during the day and
becomes a tiger at night
matsamykhang n PLANT species
of plant. The leaves of this plant
can be dried, and then used to
make aphap.
maw n PLANT species of tree
mawkhol n PLANT bark (of a tree)
mawsa ~ mosa n KIN (1)
marriageable male cousin: the
child of mama mothers brother
and anai fathers sister or of
awang fathers younger brother
and asyi mothers younger sister
(2) the relation of male cousins
from intermarriageable families
(3) a male friend belonging to an
intermarriageable family. (4)
friendly term to address a person.
mawsathangmaran ~
mosathangmaran n KIN two
boys of different maharis, for
example Marak and Sangma, in
two possible relationships
depending on the gender of the
speaker. Male speaker: my elder
sisters son and my son. Female
speaker: my elder brothers son
and my son.
meama n PERS married woman
meapha n PERS married man
memang ~ mimang n SUPER
ghost, spirit of a dead person
memang sawet- ceremony
performed a year after someones
death. The spirit of the dead
person then leaves the house and
goes to Balphakram.
memangdanggai n PLANT
species of tree
memangguchung n PLANT
species of liana, woody vine that
grows in the jungle as winding
branch with an undulating pattern
twirling itself around other trees
for support. The name of this plant
translates as ghost ladder
Memangguchung n PLACE the
way up over the hill before the
spirit of the deceased reaches
Chidymak on their way to
Balphakram
memangkereng n ANIM stick
insect, walking stick, phasmadotea
memangkereng n SUPER
skeleton ghost
memangkoksi ~ mimangkoksi n
PLANT pitcher plant
memangkyi ~ mimangkyi n
ANIM species of small frog that
says pekpekpekpek
Memangmaisansaram n PLACE
the place on the way to
Balphakram where the spirits of
the dead eat their lunch
memangsawdet n CORP wart
memesi n ANIM flying insect
meee ideo meh-eh-eh! naa! the
sound of a goat
megalaia n PLANT species of
creeper of which the sap helps in
the healing process of wounds
Megam n PERS Megam, Lyngam
mei ~ mai n TIME May
mejakbal n ANIM alligator
Mekalaia n PLACE Meghalaya
mel- adj1 fat (of person)
melanggaw n ANIM poisonous red
or black ant
memaboro n PLANT species of
nice smelling rice
menpart n PERS most important or
most salient person
mep ~ maip n ART map
95
meringgu ~ meringgaw ~
merenggaw ~ mairugu n PLANT
mushroom (edible)
mes n ANIM sheep
mew ideo meow! the sound of a cat
=mi ~ =myng encl genitive Baidam
rongsa tyikhalmi hawaichina
jalangok. Some ran away to the
plains of the river Rongsa.
Tawreksyrup mangsa,
gethengmyng thupaw phangnan
mongma phaiai sarongwana,
mongma mathaiaw thapna
reengaidonganowa. Because the
house of a banana-sucking bird
was always eaten up by an
elephant, he went to beat up the
bachelor elephant.
mimang ~ memang n PERS
ghost, spirit of a dead person.
mimanggambyrai n PLANT
species of plant
mimanggrai ~ mimanggyrai n
PLANT species of plant
mimangkoksi ~ memangkoksi n
PLANT pitcher plant
mimangkyi ~ memangkyi n
ANIM species of small frog that
says pekpekpekpek
mili- v to assemble, to meet, to
come together, to be appropriate
milimityr clf millimetre
mimi- v to to laugh, to laugh at
someone Ie biphae gawigumukaw
mimia. This guy is laughing at all
the girls.
mimikakak- v to be shaking with
laughter
mimiwami ~ mimiwamyng n ACT
a joke
miniksuru- v to be flat-haired (of
animals) Magachakmi myndo
tyisiwachian miniksuru
takjolarianoro. When the deers
fur is wet, it just quickly gets flathaired, it is said.
minit ~ minyt tw minute
mirang n ANIM neck feathers of
chicken
mistyri n PERS mason, house
builder and painter, vehicle repair
man
miting v to hold a meeting
Baisigathangmaran myngtham
mitingaidoknowa. The friends are
holding a meeting, it is said.
Dakanggabado jineral
by plot.
mityr clf metre
mmmm mmmm ideo Screeeech!
the call of an eagle
=mo encl/prtcl confirmative tag
enclitic or particle. Tyt!
diphuramama? nookno.
hoong manamaidongmo Hey!
Did you just accidentally fart? he,
said, it is said. Yes, it stinks,
doesnt it? Tanmanokona thyiok
udo, mo. Because they had cut him
up, he died, that one, isnt.
mobail n ART mobile phone
mobil n SUBST motor oil, engine
oil
mochok n PLANT sapling
moila n SUBST dirt, filth
moina n ANIM species of bird
mojekjek- v to shake (a fixed
object)
mojet- ~ mojot- v to suck
mok n PLANT species of plant
96
mon clf unit of 40kg monsa one

unit of 40kg
monchara asu n PLANT species of
tree
mondoli n ABSTR The Church Ang
mondolina kham khani I am
going to do work some for the
Church.
monggolbal n TIME Tuesday
mongma ~ mungma n ANIM
elephant
mongma ~mungma mathai n
ANIM bachelor elephant
mongmachong n ANIM caterpillar
mongmachongsu n ANIM giant
caterpillar
mongmawa ~ mungmawa n
BODY elephant tusk
mongnal n PLANT lotus
mongreng ~ mongyreng n ART
very big knife on a long pole
monok- v to swallow, to devour
Goilapan chymaimu monokbo.
After chewing the betel nut and
paan, swallow it. Sagyrai
mylgabami dadadarangawdo
janggalawan monokokno.
Phylgym chunggaba
monokrumokno myngkorokawan.
As for the brothers of the small
child, they were devoured, it is
said. The big eagle had devoured
them all, the six of them.
montyri n PERS minister
morot n PERS person, human,
human being, man, cf. Hindi
/mard/ man, male. Gethengdo

morot wa saagaba. He is a tough
person. (Literally He is a person
who eats bamboo).
morot- v to grate
mosa ~ mawsa n KIN (1)
marriageable male cousin: the
child of mama mothers brother
and anai fathers sister or of
awang fathers younger brother
and asyi mothers younger sister,
(2) the relation of male cousins
from intermarriageable families,
(3) a male friend belonging to an
intermarriageable family
mosathangmaran ~
mawsathangmaran n KIN two
boys of different maharis, for
example Marak and Sangma, in
two possible relationships
depending on the gender of the
speaker. Male speaker: my elder
speaker: my elder brothers son
and my son.
mot- v to shake a fixed object
motorajip n ART fan
mu- v to stay, to sit (be in sitting
position), to sit down, to be at, to
live somewhere, to keep V-ing
(durative) Phylgymdo
nukanchano. Atongba saai
muarongno. The giant eagle did
not see [him]. He was sitting and
eating something. Dakangdo
Dawa maharisa ichi
muwanokhone. Perhaps in the
past the Dawa family lived here, it
is said. Chokichi mubo. Sit down
on the chair. Dakanggaba Turachi
muwachi Mobbinaw gorongwa.
The first time I stayed in Tura I
met Mobbin. Ytykimyng
bengblokmyngdo sangumuk
pywdyngdyngaimyng
So then, the two of them, the
banana-sucking bird and the toad,
had been fighting the whole day,
and had kept repeatedly picking at
the elephants eyes.
97
muaidonga. Im sitting in between

Sandish and Bitter.
muchoncholon v to squat
muchonchyro- v to squat Gari
hapalchi muchonchyroai chaibo.
Look under the car squatting.
mudap- v to sit on
mukhuchok n BODY nipple
mupeng- v to sit and block
someones view
mupyret- v to crush by sitting on
something
murong- v to shit on
musi- v to say somewhere
uncomfortably
musymbylek v to sit on the floor
muten- v to look after, to watch, to
keep company
muthai n BODY breast (of
woman), bosom muthai hal- to
breastfeed
muchi n ANIM species of fish
muchot n ANIM mouse, rat
Abeknyngchi muchotsagyrai
mangbyryi chepchap chepchap
parawthokaidonga. Inside the
abek are four baby mice squeaking
eek eek.
mudu n PLANT papaya
muja n ART sock
muk- v to smoke
mukta n ART perl
mukthai n PLACE asperity,
protrusion
mula n PLANT white radish
muluwa n ART species of bamboo
mungma ~ mongma n ANIM
elephant
mungma ~ mongma mathai n
ANIM bachelor elephant
mungmawa ~ mongmawa n
BODY elephant tusk
muni n ACT a magic spell Ma
pynwasama muni ma ang
mykrenaw, ma nangchi ganang
atongba jadu. (Wylseng S Marak)
Whether my eyes are covered by a
magic spell, you have something
magical.
mura n ART stool (to sit on)
muri n FOOD popped rice
musuri n ART mosquito net
mychym- v to smile at someone
Gawi angaw mychymaidok. A girl
is smiling at me.
myia dtw yesterday
myk clf the length from the elbow
to the top of the middle finger
myk- v to tell lies
mykasyrep n PLANT species of
plant
mykbu- v to be jealous
mykbyryw- v to have itchy eyes
mykcha- v to like somebody
mykchagaba n PERS sweetheart,
girl or boy that you fancy
mykchel- v to shine in the eyes
mykchep- v to look down upon, to
despise, to scorn Atakna nangdo
angaw mykchepa? Why do you
despise me?
mykdaw ~ mykdo n CORP night
blindness
mykep n BODY temple
mykgythal n ABSTR reality
Mykgythaldo dongcha
jywmangsa. Its not reality, its
just a dream.
mykha badri n GEO long period of
incessant heavy rainfall Ue hapchi
muwachi rangmu chyw
ryngsusawanasa Hachyk
khuchuksang mykha badri noyi
myngwano.
Teechinakhyngkhyngba Hachyk
98
songgumukdo mykha badri noaria

je rangawba. Ytykchiba ie Badri
joldo asingkatiba septembyr
oktobolmi rangawsa mikha
badriwa asing badri kati
marsatwa noyi mynga. Ramram
rangawdo mykha badri myngcha.
Umigymynsa ie hapawe Badri
Rongdyng Hawai noanowa, aro
rangawba mykha badri
myngwanowa. When they stayed
in that place, bacause they held a
drinking competition with the rain,
they called it mykha badri in Garo.
Until now all Garo villages call
any rain mykha badri. But the
Badri area calls only the rains in
September and October mykha
badri marsat. Ordinary rain is not
called mykha badri. Thats why
this place is called Badri
Rongdyng Hawai, it is said, and
the rain is also called mykha badri,
it is said.
mykhal- v to be older than someone
Getheng ang mykhalgaba. He is
my elder.
mykhang n BODY/PLACE face,
front Kyi nok mykhangchi
muaidonga. The dog is sitting in
front of the house. Arong nokma
chaikhawwachi, Arong
nokmamyng mykhangaw
khiaimyng thyiokno. When
headman Arong peeked, headman
Arongs face was hit and he died,
it is said.
mykhang- v to face Isang
mykhangbo. Face this way.
Mykhangrukbo. Face each other.
Ang gethengsang
mykhangaidong. Im facing him.
mykkhi n CORP slime from the
eyes
mykjywm- v to doze off
mykpeng mykpeng n PERS name
to call a cross-eyed person
mykpeng- v CORP to be cross-eyed
ie morot mykpengok this person is
cross-eyed
mykphylyp- v to blink with your
eyes
mykrak- v to hold a wake (often
used with the incorporated noun
wal night) Wagaba thyigabana
sadyrangba jywgabamyng wal
mykrakaidonga. The children and
the mother are holding a wake for
the dead father.
mykraket- v to warn Ang nangaw
mykraketarong. Im warning you.
mykren ~ mykyren n BODY eye
mykren wathok songruk- to look
attentively
mykren tan- v to wink
mykren nuk- vpan to see Nang
walchi mykren nukama? Can you
see at night?
myksep n BODY corner of the eye
myksolkhare n BODY ring finger
myksong- v to plan, to intend Ang
kymna myksongarongchym
ytykchiba manni ma manchabai
kymna. I intend to get married but
maybe I will not be able to.
myksu- v to wash your face Angdo
phangnan ja saaimyng myksua. I
always wash my face after getting
up.
myksymyl ~ myksmyl n BODY
eyebrow
myksyram ~ myksramn BODY
eyelash
mykthoram n BODY middle finger
myktoksi n PLANT plant with
beautiful white flowers with a
yellow heart that look like big
jasmine flowers
99
myktyi n CORP tear myktyi thothak

ni two tears/two teardrops
myktyiwatram n BODY side of the
hand under the index finger
mykyren ~ mykren n BODY eye
mykren wathok songruk- to look
attentively mykren tan- to wink
myl- adj1 small
mylthai n BODY small bosom
Rong sa mylthai, rong sa
chungthai. One big bosom, one
small bosom. Phak sa mylthai,
phak sa chungthai. On one side a
big bosom on the other a small
bosom.
mym clf classifier for fists and
things that are like a fist
mym n BODY a fist (counted
without classifier)
mym- v to be like a fist
myn- vintr to be ripe, to be cooked,
to be ready Mai mynokodo maidan
syla thoka. When the rice is ripe,
we celebrate the new rice festival.
Ie panchung mynkhucha. This
jackfruit is not yet ripe. Jabek
mynok. The curry is ready.
myn n BODY body hair (of
human), fur (of animal)
myndyluk n PERS person without
body hair (this word is used
jokingly)
mynsym- v to be hairy with small
hairs
mynsymok n BODY a small body
hair
myntyi n SUBST puss; rosin; latex
of jackfruit, thick fluid of various
fruits Myntyi gumukan takapa.
All thick fluids of plants are
sticky/All pus is sticky.
myndyni adv a certain way to
wicker a bamboo mat (damdyl).
myndyni khepa to wicker the
damdyl in a myndyni way
myng- clf classifier for spoken
things, games and for the word
bostu. golpho myngsa one story
khata myngni two words bostu
myngtham three things
myng- v to call someone/somebody
a name Wiliamnagalaw
symsanggre noai mynga.
Williamnagar used to be called
Symsanggre. Angmi bimung
Braiton myngwa. My name is
Braiton. Angmyng amaaw Goje M
Sangma myngwa. My mother is
called Goje M Sangma.
=myng ~ =mi encl genitive Baidam
rongsa tyikhalmi hawaichina
jalangok. Some ran away to the
plains of the river Rongsa.
Tawreksyrup mangsa,
gethengmyng thupaw phangnan
mongma mathaiaw thapna
reengaidonganowa. Because the
house of a banana-sucking bird
was always eaten up by an
elephant, he went to beat up the
bachelor elephant.
=myng ~ =mung ~ =mu ~
=mungna ~ =muna encl
sequential Ytykyimyng
magachakdo biskutaw tyisamchi
tanaimyng chaw! thorokangokno.
So then, the deer put the biscuits
down on the river bank and splash!
jumped into the river. Babami
tangka ratjabanga piaimung
jalangok. He asked five hundred
rupees from his dad and ran away.
Mubo noaimu cha hynok. Sit
down, he said and gave her some
tea. Manapmian mai jabek
rymaimungna reengariok. After
cooking rice in the morning, she
100
just left. Kyrecha noaimuna

reengaimung kynsangdo phoot
raakno udo. Im not afraid he
said, and after he left, he got eaten
by a phoot.
=myng ~ =mung ~ =mu encl
comitative enclitic Teewe
rukpekmyng amakmyng baisiga
khawano. Now, the frog and the
monkey are friends, it is said.
Nasawmung alumung soda
dywaimyng rymai saa. We cook
and eat it with fermented fish,
potatos and soda. Jahasnamu, cha
ryngnamu, bagajinamu rajani
tangka jamok. The two hundred
rupees were all spent on the ship,
on drinking tea and on the fortuneteller.
myng- clf classifier for persons
myngthamkhua there are still six
persons left
mynga- v to call upon someone or
something Khambaisangmi wai
nukchido dyngthang khuruta.
Chamasangmi wai nukchido
dyngthang khuruta. Mani
myngwaan, hapawan
dyngthangdyngthang myngaa,
thokthok myngaa. Ie
chamasangmi wai khurutchido ue
hyisangmiaw Banggladesmi thyl
Kongosmi jaria
hagyrsakgumukawan myngani. If
you see the upstream spirit, a
different incantation if performed,
if you see the downstream spirit, a
different incantation is performed.
As for what we call the
worshipping, different places are
called upon, they are called upon
accodring to the devision. When
[he] summons the downstream
spirit, that [priest] will call upon
the influence of all those far away
[places] up till Bangladesh [and]
the influence of Kongos, all of
them.
myngkhelek- v to call somebody by
a nickname Ang nangaw
Matsumoto myngkheleka. I call
you by the nickname Matsumoto.
myngkheleka n ACT nickname
myngnang- v to be suitable
myrumyru adv not clearly
myryng myryng adv barely
Hyiawchi habanokba ganang,
myryng myryng nuketaria. There
is also a rice field house, it is
barely visible.
mysepai chai- v to look with one
eye
myt- v to extinguish Wal mytok.
The fire is out.
myte n SUPER deity, god
mythel- v to thank, to appreciate
Anga nangtymaw mythelbiok. I
thank you very much.
N
na- v to hear
na interj nah! Expresses
disapproval.
=na ~ =ona encl Goal enclitic
Hanep anga nangna golpho
balni. Tomorrow, I will tell you a
story. Naa angna tangka
hynchama? Wont you give me
any money? Ang nangna
chungkhala. I am taller than you.
Khaw kanwana daiaido nanange
ichi chaiai muwaan
gasukhalnaka. It is better that we
sit here and watch than that you
cut hair. Machana makbulna
mongmana paichaaimung
byldyngbyldang jalna
habachengok. Not bearing the
tigers, bears and elephants
101
anymore, they stared to run away

all over the place. Ang nangna
khagala. I love you. Nangtymmi
nanggabaaw nangtymmi
piaidongabaaw, nangna
dakangan phetangok, nangna
dakangan udo reengsawok. [The
curse] which you needed, which
you were asking for, had arrived
before you and it has certainly left
before you. Bisang raina
baisiga? Where do you intend to
go, friend? Hai baisiga, biskut
sakhawna. Come on, friend, I
want to steal the biscuits.
Chamasangba chaiok!
Khambaisangawba chaiok.
Chamasangmi chaichiba matdam
saak, khambaisangmi chaichiba
matdam saak. Biaw chaikhuna?
Angna niok! nookno. I looked
downstream, I looked upstream!
Whenever I looked downstream,
the otters had eaten it. Whenever I
looked upstream, the otters had
eaten it. Where else am I supposed
to look? I have nothing else! he
said, it is said. Bichi
raiaphinkhuna? anga iskyn
gamaw hanthietok. iskyn jangaba
songsang detheng jalangok. bichi
uchie angchina raiakhuna? What
does he want to return for? I
bestowed so much wealth on him.
He ran away to such a far country.
What then does he want return to
me for? Ning ue phylgymaw
kawna reengnane. We are going
to shoot that eagle, okay? Biana
wak khatna rawaidonga. We are
searching a pig to slaughter for the
wedding. Bandiaw watetna
chanchiaidokno. He was thinking
about senting Bandi. Ang
phalthangan reengnado
sykaidokchym. I would like to go
myself, but I cant. Mmung tangka
niwa aro sana ryngnaba niwa. I
have no money and I have nothing
to eat or drink. Songmi
nokgumukan wararaakona wal
khamna jangok. Because all the
houses of the village are made
only of bamboo, they are very
quick to catch fire. Ido phylgymmi
dian thawokona, randaido
atongtykyi thawarongnaka, mo
ama?! Because this eagles shit is
so tasty, how tasty will its meat be,
right, mother?! Balphakram
habyrigumukokona, raisotna
mancha. Because Balphakram is
all hills, you cannot go there
directly.
na n ANIM fish
nachan n ANIM firefly
nacheng n ANIM river shrimp
nagarang n ANIM species of
electric fish
nagungphel n ANIM species of
fish
najek n ANIM species of fish
nakha n ANIM species of fish
nalam n ANIM species of blue,
purple river fish that tastes
particularly good when prepared in
a bamboo tube (see bering-)
nalamsusyrakdyl n PLANT
species of liana
naluk n ANIM tadpole
namatsa n ANIM species of fish
nanang ppron we, first person
plural inclusive
nanyl n ANIM electric eel
napat n ANIM species of fish
naphok n ANIM species of fish
narong n ANIM species of fish
naru n ANIM species of fish
narym n ANIM species of fish
102
narymkhu n ANIM species of fish

nasak n ANIM species of red fish
nasaw n FOOD fermented fish
nathek n ART earring
nawachak n ANIM species of fish
nawak n ANIM species of fish
nabak n ART knot
nadanggap n ANIM flat blood
sucking parasite on humans and
animals
nadanggorot n BODY oesophagus
nadekaram n BODY earlobe
nagok adj2 deaf
nai n KIN aunt: fathers sister
naimaran n KIN my nai and her
(elder or younger) brothers
unmarried child
nainokhol n KIN mother-in-law,
addressed as mani
nainokholburung n KIN a group
of mothers-in-law and daughtersin-law
nainokholthangmaran n KIN my
nai and her (older or younger)
brothers married child
naija dtw next year, at some time in
the far future
nak- adj1 black
=naka ~ =ka encl imperious future
or certain future Cha rynaimyng,
mai saaimyng, rainaka. After
drinking tea and eating rice, we
will go. .Aia dugaphinok
baisiga! Angaw thogiwado.
Tainido tanchomotchaka anga
gethengaw kakai sanakanookno
pherue. Its too much, friend!
You have betrayed me. Today, I
will certainly not spare him. I will
certainly bite and eat him.
nakamai n ART small basket to
sow rice from
nakhal n BODY ear nakhal samsa
one ear
nakhalchadan n BODY part of the
head behind the ear
nakhal na- vpan to hear
Dethengmi balgabaaw nakhal ta
na! Dont listen to the things he
says!
nakhong n BODY backside of the
ear
nakhung n BODY/CORP nose,
snot (liquid) nakhung goisa one
nose
nakhung rataw- v to snort
nakhungdi n CORP hard piece of
snot
nakhungkhal n BODY nostril
nakhungkhal ni two nostrils
nakhungmyn n BODY nose hair
nakhungthek n ART nose piercing
nal- v to gorge, to stuff your face
nalangtaupal n ANIM species of
fish
nalbas adv nervous
nalsasang n PLACE the other side
namakai ~ nakamai n ART small
basket used to sow rice out of
nambal ~ nombol n ABSTR
number
namchyk n KIN niece
namchyksyw n KIN grand-niece /
great-niece: the daughter of my
husbands sisters daughter
namgaba n KIN niece
namnokhol n KIN daughter-in-law
namnokholburung n KIN group of
daughters-in-law
-nang evsp V in a beautiful or nice
way
nang- v to bear fruit
nang- v to need, to have to, must
103
nang ppron you (singular), second

person singular
nangtym ppron you, second
person plural
nangchomot- adj1 important
nanggandai adv naked
nanggandai n PERS naked person
nanggodolong n PERS naked
person
nangthaigaba n CORP swelling,
abscess
-nap evsp V with all your heart
Anga babasangan jalnapaimu
anga songthangsangan
waiphinnaka. I will run back to
my father with all my heart, and I
will return to my own village.
napit n PERS hairdresser
narang n PLANT orange
narot n PLANT species of edible
tuber
narykel ~ narykhel n PLANT
coconut
narykeltyi n PLANT coconut milk
nasengkhet n ANIM tick
nasi- v to suffer from a loud noise
or sound Kyi parawchido ang
nasia. When the dog barks I suffer
from the loud sound.
nat- v to scrub, to scour, to clean by
scrubbing, to remove by scrubbing
Wa natbo. Brush your teeth. Nang
nonoe tyigatchi nataidok. Your
younger sister is washing the
dishes at the water place.
natheng n BODY cheeck and
cheekbone, side of the head
nathym- v to listen to
nathyra n ANIM tick
naw n KIN younger sister. This
word is also used to address a
younger female cousin or an
unrelated woman younger than the
speaker
naw- v to scold Angawe amaparae
nawba nawnaka tokba toknaka.
The people in my mothers house
will certainly scold me and beat
me. Angdo Tura reengni,
dongchachido angaw baba nawni.
I will go to Tura, otherwise father
will scold me.
nawang n PERS retard, half-brain,
fool, stupid, confused person
nawchak n ANIM species of fish
nawmyl n PERS marriageable girl
nawsyri n KIN sister-in-law:
younger brothers wife
=ne encl/prtcl affirmation seeking
tag enclitic or particle Uchi
Nepaldo: Naa ang masu mang
rajasaaw tynangsegabone
nookno. Ym noaimyng
Thengthonba tynangokno. Then
the Nepali said: You lead my
hundred cows away, ok? Yes,
he said and Thengthon led them
away, it is said. Nemai reengbo
baisiga, ne. Go carefully, my
friend, ok?
ne n ANIM bee
nekat n ANIM species of bee
nekatthup n ART hive, bees nest
newal n ANIM species of bee
Nedyran n PLACE The
Netherlands, Dutch
nek- adj1 close, near Rame tyi
nekokno. The road is very close to
the water. Literally: As for the
road, the water is very near.
neksem- adj1 to be very near
nem- adj1 good
nem- v to get better, to heal
nemen adv very Teew wen sa
rypa nangdo nemen sylnaka
104
noaidongano pherue. If you go

into the water once more you will
certainly be very beautiful said
the fox, it is said.
nemgyni n ABSTR advantage,
good fortune, good luck
nemnuk- v to like
neng- adj1 tired
neng- vsec to lack, to fail to Ha
chamai Bandi, byl nengchiba
chak nengchiba iaw ryngetphabo!
Take this sweetheart Bandi, when
you lack strength, when your
hands are tired, drink this! Wak
rakhiwami gesepchian dethenge
maimynawan manai sana
nengokno. When he was herding
pigs, he could not eat a lot of rice.
nengthak- ~ ningthak- v to rest,
to take a rest, stop for a while
Nepal n PERS/ACT/PLACE Nepali
(person and language), Nepal
(country)
nesynyl haiwe n PLACE national
highway
net n ART basket worn on the waist
to put in the harvested rice
netwak n network
ni num two
=ni ~ =nyi encl without
Chininyicha takbo. Make tea
without sugar.
=ni encl uncertainty modality
enclitic
ni- ~ nyi- v negative
locative/existential verb, to not
exist, to not be naa mykcha
khagalwa niwama ganang? Do
you have someone you fancy,
someone you love or not? Ning
We pagans, we the Atong, in the
Somaido nyiok Theres no time
left.
niet- v to switch off, to turn off
Lait nietbo. Switch off the light!
niwa v nothing
niam n ACT custom, law, tradition
ning ppron we, us, first person
plural exclusive
nisan v to aim
nisi- v to poison Sanarai sachido
ang nangaw nisina manchaka. If
you eat a centipede, I will
certainly not be able to poison
you.
no- v to say
=no encl evidential clausal enclitic,
termed quotative, that indicates
that the information in the clause
was not witnessed by the speaker
but that the speaker has it from
hearsay. Song damsachi morot
myngsa manai sabigyba
ganangnochym. In a village was
supposedly a very rich man, it is
said. Rongkhasang galaimyng
thyiokno. He fell down a cliff and
died, they said.
nobembyl ~ nobembol n TIME
November
noga n ART tree-house
nok n PLACE house nok tham three
houses
nokbanthai n PLACE bachelors
house. Before Christianity each
village had a Bachelors house for
every clan that lived in the village.
In this house lived young,
unmarried men. They would
practice fighting, hunting, singing,
storytelling and all kinds of things
that young men would have to
learn before getting married.
105
Women and members of other

clans were not allowed to enter the
bachelors house.
nokchama n KIN the relationship
of the parents of a married couple
nokchina ~ nokna n KIN the
heiress of a family or her husband
nokchol n ART door, entrance
nokdang n PERS the family that
live together in one house
nokgaba n PERS landlord, house
owner, God
nokhama n ART a supporting
structure
nokhap n PLACE level piece of
land on which a house is built
nokhol ~ nokhor n PERS slave
nokkhap n ART door
nokkhung ~ nukkhung n ART
roof
nokma n PERS village headman,
rich man Dakangmi somaido ning
sagyrai mylbutungchido nokma
nogado manai sagasa, gam
panggasa nokma mynga. As for
the past, when we were small
children, a so called nokma was a
wealthy person, only someone
with a lot of wealth was called
nokma.
nokna ~ nokchina n KIN the
heiress of a family or her husband
nokphandai n PLACE bachelors
house
nokphin- v to return home
Nokphinniba utymdo. They will
return home.
noksam n ART wall of a house, the
piece of ground where a house is
built on Noksamchi simen, tota, tin
pirinai hama. They build the walls
of their houses with a mix of
cement, planks and corrugated
iron. Nang baba noksamchi
tangka gopgaba ganangno. Under
your fathers house lies buried
money, it is said.
noksuk n PLACE the side of an
object that faces the wall
noktapa n ANIM species of small
gecko that creeps up the walls of
houses at night
nokthai n ART small house next to
the main house
nokwek n ART broom (for
sweeping) nokwek kun tham three
brooms
nokweng n ART floor
nol n ART fence, fenced enclosure
nol kha- to make a fence
nom- adj1 soft, weak, easy Dam
noma. Its cheap. Raja! Nang
damaw chosa ie ang baisigathang
pheru tamnano noai
takaidongano. Ytykyimyng
kantaraaw Tambono
tambono noai tanangarioknoe
magachakdo. Ytykyimyng tamai
chaichie tedo byirakhem
hongkhotruruaimu kaksyrangokno
pheruawdo. Nomangaidokno udo.
Ytykyimyng jalangthiriokno
magachakdo. O King, can my
friend the fox play a bit on your
drum? he pretended to say, it is
said. Go ahead and play, go
ahead and play! the deer
pretended that the king said, it is
said. So then, when he tried to
play it, the bees all came out and
bit the fox all over, it is said. The
fox became weak, it is said. So
then the deer ran away again, it is
said.
nombok- v to be unconscious, to be
tired after eating a lot Taisa
nombokok. A little while ago he
106
was unconscious. nombok thyibok

almost dead
nombol ~ nambal n ABSTR
number
nong- v to apply, to put (on the skin
or body, like a cream or medicine),
to smear, to spread, to crush and
smear out Khuchul pisak nongwa
lepstik She has put lipstick on her
red lips. Jaryt chamussang
nongaidong. Im crushing and
smearing out the chillies with a
spoon. sam nonga to put medicine
(on a wound or on the skin).
Nongkene: Hoong, chym.
Jonken says: Hm! And then that
work, what work will he be doing
while he stays here?When you are
a bachelor, because you need
money Nongken says: Yes,
supposedly.
nono n KIN younger sister. This
address a related younger female
of your generation: cousin, to
address a young unrelated female
person younger than the speaker.
norok n PLACE hell
nosto dong- v to be damaged
nuk- v to see, to look like, to find
Uchie phylgym chunggabaaw
nukokno. Then he saw a very big
eagle, it is said. Ie kyi matsatykyi
nuka. This dog looks like a tiger.
Sabanthaigaba noaian
tynganchakno. Kanjotokno.
Morottykyi nukanchakno. He did
not recognise his so called son, it
is said. He was very skinny, it is
said. He did not look human
anymore. Nang Atonggawiaw
sylai nukama? Do you find Atong
girls pretty?
nukcham- v to see into the future
nukhu n PLACE courtyard
nukkhung ~ nokkhung n ART
roof
nygyl n PLACE market
nygyltyi tw week nygyltyi sa tyi ni
one week or two Nygyltyi
raiagadyrangchi raiani. He will
come sometime next week.
nygyktyityi every week
=nyi ~ =ni encl without Chininyi
cha takbo. Make tea without
sugar.
nyi ~ ni- v to not exist Mamung
tangka niwa aro sana ryngnaba
niwa I dont have any money and
nothing to eat or drink. Ang
sagrai niwa. I dont have
children.
nyng n KIN aunt: fathers sister
nyng n PLACE inside
nyngtyw- v deep
O
o interj hey! o! oh!This
interjection can be pronounced
long to indicate acknowledgement.
O jojong! Bisang reengwa,
nangmi bajue? Nygylsang.
ooo. Hey, younger brother!
Where did your friend go? To
the market. Oh.
obosta n ACT event
odek n PERS baby
=odo ~ =do encl Topic enclitic
Nang sabo. Angdo sachawa.
You eat. I will not eat. Turasang
reengchido angna tupi rabone. If
you go to Tura, buy me a hat. Hap
pidan ramna manokodo jytnaka?
After you have found a new place,
youll immediately move?
107
ogynang- ~ oknak- ~ oknang- v to

be pregnant
ogynanggaba ~ okgynanggaba n
CORP pregnancy
oi interj oy! hey! interjection to
draw someones attention
oikor n ART alphabet, spelling
oja n ART medicine man,
traditional herbal doctor
ok n ACT hunger
=ok ~ =ak ~ =k encl perfective
aspect /change of state Bisang
reengok? Where did [he] go?
Nang ie tupi bimi raak? Where
did you get that cap? Churi
anymore.
okgynanggaba ~ ogynanggaba n
CORP pregnancy
okha- v to be full after eating
okhi- v to be hungry Mai okhiedok
angdo. Im hungry. Alternative
spelling: Mai okhiaidok angdo.
okhuchak n CORP stomach pain
okhynyng- v to break a round
hollow object in half (not
lengthwise, i.e. the result is a cross
section, see thong)
okma n BODY the front of the
body Nawgabaaw janawgaba
okmachi baaidok. The elder sister
is carrying her younger sister on
the front of her body.
okmyng- v to starve
oknak- ~ ogynang- ~ oknang- v to
be pregnant
oksephang n CORP pain in the
lower abdomen
oktobyl n TIME October
ol- v to speak, talk
oltho ~ ortho n ABSTR meaning
=ona ~ =na encl Goal enclitic (See
=na)
ong n ANIM wasp
ongang n ANIM big edible frog
ongang n ANIM species of frog
opis ~ ophis n PLACE office
opiser ~ ophiser n PERS officer
ortho ~ oltho n ABSTR meaning
Ostrelia n PLACE Australia
ostro n ART weapon
oto n ART auto rickshaw
otorewain n ACT auto rewind
otyk n PLACE bottom of ravine or
cliff
P
pa- adj1 low, plain, flat, thin (of
things)
pa- v to perch Sympak
chunggabachi phylgym paai
musawaidongano. The eagle is
perching in a sympak tree.
pagawa n PLANT the white,
spongy inside of a banana tree
pai- v to carry by hand Banggal
myngsa biskut chyrymbiai
paiaidonganote. A Bengal is
carrying a heavy load of biscuits.
Ue alsia rajae jykba myngni
kymanoro. Ytykyimyng jykba
myngnian sanaba jyk paithumna
nangano, jywnaba jyk paina
nangano. That lazy king was
married to two wives, it is said. So
then, as for these wives, the two of
them, when he eats his wives have
to carry him on their hands, and
when he sleeps his wives have to
carry him on their hands, it is said.
pai- vgoal to support, to tolerate
Ang khol rangsanna paicha. My
skin does not tolerate the sun.
108

byldang jalna habachengok.
Then, not bearing the bears and
run away all over the place.
paira ~ phaira n ART type of
basket
paila n ART scale (for weighing)
paip n ART water pipe
paitaw- v to lift up
pakara ~ pakyra n PLANT stalk of
a fruit, cord for kukuri
pakrai ~ pakri n ART horizontal
beam that runs perpendicular to
the bylbang under the roof to form
the base of the roof of a house
pakyl n ART centre strap of a
sandal
pal n PLANT flower Pal manok.
The flower is blossoming. pal
mochoka a flower bud
pal- v to bloom Pan palaidonga.
The tree is in bloom. Balgyto
palaidonga. The orchid is in
bloom
palak n ART bamboo spoon: piece
of bamboo split in half and used to
stir
palengma n PLANT Barebinaxariegata, tree with beautiful
white flowers that smell very nice
like magnolia and are edible
palong n ART bed
pan clf classifier for apparatus,
appliances, mechanical and
electrical things, cars, bikes,
bicycles, mortars and umbrellas
gari pansa one car redio pansa
one radio satha pansa one
umbrella thep pansa one tape, tibi
pansa one TV, asam pantham
three mortars
pan n PLANT tree, firewood pan
phan sa one tree pan dot sa one
log
pan wa n khjyks/n PLANT plants,
plants and trees
panpyrak- v to cut breadth wise
panachol n PLANT mushroom (not
edible)
panbai n PLANT firewood
panchak n PLANT leaf
panchan n PLANT species of plant
panchengrong n PLANT species of
tree
panchoka n PLANT small log
panchong n PLANT tree trunk
panchung n PLANT jackfruit
panchungchongsu n ANIM
species of black hairy caterpillar
that lives on jackfruit trees
panchyksi n PLANT twig
panchyksi goisa one twig
panchyreng n ART non-supporting
horizontal beam that forms part of
the structure of the side of a house
and to which the damdyl can be
attached
pandala n PLANT twig
pandawsik n PLANT species of
tree
pang- adj1 a lot, many
pangwami n ABSTR quantity,
abundance
pangkol n PLANT guava
pangkollipa n PLANT species of
tree
pangkywal n PLANT guava
pangyrym n PLANT jungle thicket
panju n PLANT firewood
panjyl n PLANT species of tree
pankhol n PLANT bark (of a tree)
109
panmaikung n PLANT species of

tree
panmang n PLANT species of tree
panmatha n PLANT species of tree
pannok n wood shed
panphek n PLANT sapling, young
tree
panrasun n PLANT species of tree
pansok n PLANT end of a branch
where the tree grows
pansok n PLANT species of tree
panthai n PLANT type of fruit
panthjong n PLANT species of tree
panthong n ART wooden stick
pantiki n PLANT wood chip
pape n ANIM species of big, brown
gecko
papol n FOOD pasta
papret- v to throw to death
para n GEO river junction
=para encl associative plural
enclitic, X and company, X and
those associated with him/her
Nang dadaparado usang phylgym
chunggaaw kawna reengwanote.
Your elder brothers went that way
to shoot a giant eagle.
-parang evsp V without destination,
V without goal, V aimlessly, V
absentmindedly, V inattentively
Ytykyimyng, chaiparangai
tokaimyng, biphagaba nakhungaw
tokgakmanaimyng thyisyrangokno
amakdo, biphagabado. So then,
while she was beating him, she
was looking away, and she
accidentally hit her husbands
nose, and he died on the spot, it is
said, the monkey, her husband.
Ytykyi mangnengrukaimu
thorokaimu thyiok, singhodo.
Ytykyimu jokok pherudo. Ytykyimu
jalparangok gumukan. They
quarrelled like that, and the lion
jumped down and died. So the fox
escaped. So then everybody
wandered off.
parang n PLANT/ART reed, thatch
parang- v to wander, to go astray
parap- v to be (too) salty
paraw- v to call (of animal), to
shout (of animal and human)
parawchyrik- v to shout loudly
Morot sorokchi kepai
parawchyrikaidong. The man was
shouting loudly on the road
because he was angry.
pargunja n TIME (archaic)
February
-pat evsp V across Teedo jahastaw
chawpatangokno. Now he sailed
the boat away to the other side.
pat- v to cross Sikhar khana
reengokno reengokno
reengokno. Tyikhal goisaaw
patna nangokno. They went
hunting, they went and went. Then
they had to cross a river.
patal ~ phatal ~ phathal ~ pathal
n GEO stone
patyl n ART slingshot
pawai n ART bowl or its volume,
bowlful, classifier for curries
Atong jabek saak? Alu
nasaw pawai sa, taw khirip
pawai sa. What curry did you
eat? Potatoes with fermented
fish and chicken with khirip.
pawdyr n SUBST powder, baby
powder
peel ~ pheel dong- ~ dong- v to
fail Getheng lekha nemai
poreancha, ytykyimu poreka peel
dongok. He did not study the
book well, so then he failed his
exam.
110
pek- v to be drunk pekok drunk

peket clf classifier for packets
Sigyret peketsa ganangkhuama?
Do you still have a packet of
cigarettes?
peking ~ pheking n ACT luggage,
packing
pekpek ideo croak! ribbit! the call
of a frog
pel- v to fuck
pelang adj2 flat
peleng- ~ peleng- v to deflate
peleng adj2 to be flat
pen n ART pen
peng ~ peng- v to prevent, to
hinder, to obstruct Ang
mykhangchi mupengna bai.
Ang nukcha. Dont
obstructively stand in front
of me. I cant see. Nang
lekhaaw komputyrchi
tanpengna bai. Dont
obstructively put your book
on the computer.
peng- v to curse Takgaba
Rywgabasang Phatigaba
Raronggabasang phalthang
pengai tananggabaaw
raphinkhana dengetkhalna. The
supreme god wanted to lift the
curse that he himself had put [on
the village].
penta n PLANT species of plant
pepylok n ANIM species of bird
pereng- adj1 straight
peret- v to split, to cut in half, to
crack, to explode
pering tongtong adv straight
pering- v to be straight
-pha evsp V also, V in addition, V
along with, V together Naa
abundyrangtykyi kam khaai
chaiphabota! You! Try to do some
more work, like other people!
Natyme goibyisyk manphawa ie
bylsie? How many [baskets full of
rice] did you get altogether this
year?
pha- v to dare Noksang rainaba
phaphinchaaidok. Jebadong anga
takruksyrangarinaka. Matsami
chaphungaw wangjoloknoaro,
alsia rajae. I dont dare to go
home. Anyway, I will just fight to
the end He bit the tiger on the
thigh, it is said, the lazy king. San
nidyrang dongphinaidok, nang
noksang raianado
pachongmotchaaidokkhon
nookno. It has been two days and
maybe he really does not dare to
come to your house.
phaat- ~ phaet- v to apply, to put
on, to put on a wound, to apply to
a wound Sambanggyri akaiokno,
tokdepdepaimu phaatokno. He
plucked sambanggyri, crushed it
and put it on the wound, it is said.
Jywgaba sagaraiaw dithap
phaetaidonga. The mother is
putting a diaper on the child.
phalak n ART piece of old cloth
used to clean things
phalap n PERS whore, prostitute
phagongma ~ phagungma n
BODY shoulder
phai- v to break, to translate
phaira ~ paira n ART type of
basket
phaithong- v to break a solid
object in half (not lengthwise, i.e.
the result is a cross section, see
thong)
phaikana ~ paikhana n PLACE
toilet
phaithawa ~ phaithopa n BODY
cheek
111
phak clf classifier for halves of

objects cut lengthwise
-phak evsp V lengthwise, V
vertically, V upright, V around, V
for a little while, V by the side of
something, V together in one
blow. Waaw tanphakbo. Cut the
bamboo lenthwise. Khiokno udo,
parang goisado. Aro goitham
songphakokno. Goitham
songphakgaawba uawba
kawthiriokno. He hit it, the culm
of reed. The stuck three more into
the groun. He shot all three, which
she had put up. Ytykimyng
bengblokmyngdo sangumuk
pywdyngdyngaimyng
Ytykyi tokphakchiba manchakno.
Ytykyi satphakchiba
manchaknowa. So then, the two
of them, the banana-sucking bird
and the toad, had been fighting the
whole day, and had kept
repeatedly picking at the
elephants eyes. He could not beat
them off anymore. He could not
fight them off anymore.
Tawsagyrai nokhamaaw
jalphakangaidonga. The chicks
are running under the house (i.e.
they go under at one side and
come out from underneath on the
other side). Dypyw ang chakaw
wenangphakwa. The snake would
itself around my arm. Angtykyi
wetsachi morot myngsene
sootphakna mangabaaw atykyi
hitramna? Why are you trying to
commans a person like me, who
can kill seven persons at once?
phak n SHAPE side, half which is
the result of a longitudinal section
or a cut along the length.
phak- v to throw out, to empty
phakdemel n PLANT species of
plant
phakphaklak- v to spill
phakset- v to throw away (for solid
substances and things)
phakwal n BODY armpit
phal n PLACE share, shift of work,
instead of Ang reengsigama
nangmi phal? Shall I go instead
of you?
phal- v to sell Ang ie narykhel teen
nygylsang raangaimyng phalni. I
will bring these coconuts to the
market and sell them later.
phalong ~ phalwang n PLANT
species of plant
phalthang ppron self
phalthangthang ppron selves
phalwang ~ phylwang n PLANT
species of tree
phan clf classifier for trees;
classifier for food packed in
bundles in raichakpan phansa
one tree
phang clf classifier for grass, trees
and flowers narang phangsa one
orange tree narang rongsa one
orange
phangnan adv always, never
Phangnan rupek mugabachido tyi
ganang. There is always water
where there are frogs. Thawgaba
symgaba phangnan
sarongchagaba jilami
jykthangthangaw jumuphynaakno.
Having brought and given tasty
and sweet things from the district
which are usually never eaten,
they slowly recollected all their
husbands who had run away into
the jungle, it is said.
112
phangphyl adj2 upside down

phangphylok to be turned over, to
be upside down
phanthai n PLANT type of sour
fruit
phakthangthang n PLACE side by
side. Nok thaini
phakthangthangsang Two houses
standing side by side.
phakwil phakwal ~ phakwyl
phakwal expr side by side
phas n ABSTR the first one
phasgaba adv first Phasgaba
the old rice stalks.
phat clf classifier for clothes
phat- v to chuck away, to throw out
phathi- v to bless, to bestow upon
phatsai n ART womans dress
phawjong ~ phawjong n KIN
elder brother. This word is also
used to address an older male
cousin or a man older than the
speaker.
phawjongmaran ~
phawjongmaran n KIN two elder
brothers
phe- v to disembowel, to gut (fish),
pheep ~ phep n PLANT banyan
tree
pheepmisi n PLANT species of
tree
phephong n ANIM floater organs
of a fish
phebaw n PERS person with a
swollen cheek or swollen tonsils
phebuari n TIME February
pheel dong- ~ pheel dong- ~ peel
dong- ~ peel dong- v to fail
Getheng lekha nemai poreancha,
ytykyimu poreka peel dongok. He
did not study the book well, so
then he failed his exam.
phek clf classifier for smaller
branches of trees dala pheksa one
branch
=phek qft distributive enclitic, also
occurs as quantifier after
classifiers. This enclitic can be
reduplicated to phekphek.
Palengma burung banga banga
hawwaan pungphek phingano.
They cut five bushes of palengma
(the tree Barebinia xariegata) each
and one rice stock house each was
filled, it is said. (This means that
the soil was so fertile that they
could cultivate a lot of rice on a
relatively small piece of land.)
=phek- v to make drunk, to be
drunk.
pheking ~ peking n ACT luggage,
packing
=phekphek qft distributive enclitic,
also ha a simple form: phek.
Myngphekphekan bunduk
raangrumokno. Each to them
took a gun, it is said.
phekphek- v flipping and turning
(like fish do on dry land or in a
dammed-up fishing place)
Ytykyimyng tedo tyi
dongangoknowa. Tyichiba naai
panganowa. Ytykyimyng
baisigathangmaran tyi
dukungokno dukungokno
dukungokno. Nado
ramramanchakno. Narongdo
phekphekramphinaidoknowa. So
now they reach the river. In the
water is a lot of fish. So then, the
two friends dam up the water.
There is an abundance of fish. The
fish are flipping and turning a lot.
113
phel clf classifier for flat baked

things and coins barata phelsa one
paratha, biskut phelsa one biscuit
tangka phelsa one coin
phengchang- v to hold something
in front of something else
phep ~ pheep n PLANT banyan
tree
pheret n CORP crack in the skin
pheret- v to crack, to burst, to
explode
pheru n ANIM fox
phet- adj1 to be thin
-phet evsp V detrimentally, V
scandalously much. Biskynan jachi
saaidonga? Tangkaawba tiktika.
How much do they eat every
month? They make their money
last. As for us, we dont make it
last. We are gluttons and
drunkards. The rich eat and drink
scandalously much.
phet- v to arrive (at), to reach, to
come out of the water, to emerge
Ytykyimyng ue raja nygylchina
phetokno. So then the king arrived
at/reached the market, it is said.
Bewal rypaimyng phetaakno.
Having been in the water for some
time, he emerged, it is said.
Ytykyimyng jenetne rajamyng
noksang phetangokno. So then he
somehow reached the house of the
king, it is said.
phet- v to swell up
-phetphet evsp V repeatedly and
intensely, V like your life depends
on it Sipaidyrang dangwachie
kantyra gulinyi kawphetphetai
raiaaknokhon. When the
souldiers had entered the village,
they started repeatedly firing
blanks. Dykhimi balgabaaw sung
raaisa
jalphetphetangaidongano.Remem
bering what Dykhi has said, he ran
like his life depended on it.
phi- v to invite Beanbebe
montyridyrngba Bilaw phina takyi
hongkhotangthokokno. The
ministers truly all went out to
invite Bil, it is said.
philm ~ philym ~ philim n ART
film, movie
-phin ~ -phyn evsp V backward, V
back, V again, over-V, V
overtime, V fully, obviously V, V
fully, V totally, V completely Hai!
Noksang raiphinnaka. Come on!
Lets go back home. Getheng
nangna ytykphinai khagalano,
ytykchiba nangna baratano. She
loves you so much, she says, but
she feels shy toward you, she says.
phing- v to be full Gylaschi tyi
phingok. The glass is full of water.
Gylas phingok, diphingna
manchaka. The glass is full; you
cannot fill it anymore. Nangmi
khathong bangbang dongchido
ang phingetni. If your heart is
empty, I will fill it.
phingpyryt- ~ phingpurut- v to
overflow
phoot ~ phot n ANIM mythical
black amphibian like a salamander
phok- v to lift up, to uproot, to
swell
phone ~ phoon n ART/ACT
telephone, telephone call Angna
phone khaetboto! Call me (on the
phone)!
phong clf classifier for cylindrical
objects and for long sharp or
pointy objects
114
phong ideo brap! blarp! the sound

of someone farting
phong n ART wooden handle of big
knives, axes and spears
phong n ART fire place for
cooking
phongkhal n ART stones to put a
cooking pot on
phongthu n ART/PLACE stones
to put a cooking pot on, fire place
for cooking
phoren n PERS/PLACE white
person, foreigner, foreign country
phot ~ phoot n ANIM mythical
black amphibian like a salamander
that eats people.
phryngphrang askui n GEO the
morning star
phuk- v to be stuck in the throat
Tokkyrengchi asu phukaidonga.
There is a fishbone stuck in my
throat.
phulis n PERS police
phulkobi n PLANT cauliflower
phuruk- v to become uprooted
Bildo kyryiaimyng pandyrangchi
pyichiba panba baiariokno,
wachi pyichiba waba
phurukariokno. As for Bil,
because he was afraid, when he
held on to the trees, the trees
would break, when he held on to
bamboo, the bamboo would just
become uprooted, it is said.
phuruk- v to break (for plants and
trees)
phuset- v to spit out
phuthi n ANIM species of fish
phutsul n ANIM species of water
monitor (lizard) that supposedly
can eat humans, also called water
dragon Kha Dawa nochachido
phutsul raarianoro. If you dont
say Kha Dawa the phutsul will
get you, it is said.
phyl- v to transform, to change
into Imi wa juw wak phylwa. Her
father and mother have changed
into pigs.
phylgym n ANIM eagle
phyltawtaw adv jerkingly (over a
rough road)
phylwang ~ phalwang n PLANT
species of tree
phylyp- v to blink (with your eyes)
Mykrenmi phylyp chaiwaan. I
looked at her with blinking eyes.
(Gostar R Sangma)
phylyp- v to blink once with your
eyes
-phyn ~ -phin evsp V backward, V
back, V again, over-V, V
overtime, V fully, obviously V, V
fully, V totally, V completely
phyn- v to cover Ang kombol
phynaidonga. A blanket is
covering me./I am lying under a
blanket.
phyryw adj2 to have a hole in it
phyryw- v to be hollow
phyt- v to slice
phywra n FOOD rice powder
pi- v to ask, te request, to beg, to
pray
pisa n TIME childhood
pithyn ~ bithyn n BODY liver
piti ~ pityi n FOOD rice beer
(gold coloured)
pityng n ART thread, necklace
pibok adj2 white, unripe, very light
green
picham adj2 old (of things)
pidan adj2 new
pidio n ART video
115
pido n ACT game played with

small stones. The game can be
played by just one person or a
small group of people. Every
round consists of a series of
jugglings that become more
difficult each time a round is
completed.
pijyw n PLANT rice seeds for
sowing, newly harvested rice,
unhusked rice that is thrown away
when cleaning a portion of rice
before cooking it
pikheng adj1 alive
piktiyr n ART picture, photo
pinak adj2 black
ping- v to block the way
piong n ANIM species of bird
pipuk n BODY belly, intestines,
bowels, stomach
pirin- v to mix
piryt n BODY gall bladder
pisak adj2 red, blond
pit clf the length of two fists and
two thumbs when one joins them
potolong n PERS person with a
naked chest
pok- v to swell
pokotia n PERS freeloader,
sponger, person who takes
advantage of the kindness of
others
poop n FOOD triangular pastry
eaten with tea
porai- ~ pore- v to read; to study
poram- v to fly over
pore- ~ porai- v to read; to study
porika n ACT exam, examination
puk- vintr to be stuck asu pukok the
fishbone is stuck
puksuk n BODY waist, side of the
body
puktyng n BODY small intestine
pulis n PERS police
pun- v to catch with a fishing rod
and fishing hook na pun- to fish,
to catch fish
pung n ART granary, rice stock
house Mai bytwamyngdo
pungchina songchina khairata.
We carry the rice harvest down to
the rice stock house, to the village.
purun n ANIM goat
pusipusi ~ puspus interj
interjection to call a cat. Here
kitty kitty!
pyi- v to touch, to grasp Uchie
songmyng morotmyng jyrym
thymaimyng Thengthonaw
rawokno pyigoropokno. Then the
people of the village, having
quietly lain in ambush, caught
Thengthon, they grasped him all
together, it is said.
pyikhap- v to catch
pyiram- v to feel for, to search by
feeling
pyikhep- v to hold firmly
pyikhyrep v to crush with your
hand
pyiru- v to collapse
pyithyng- v to hold on to, to gras
pyjyw- v to sow seeds by scattering
them
-pyl evsp V rapidly
pylang adj2 flat Ytykyimyng teedo
amak gethengdo rong pelang
sylgabachi kepleplep bamai
hyntakkonoa. So then, now the
monkey, as for him, he willingly
lay down stretched out on his belly
on a flat stone, it is said.
pyleng- ~ pyleng ~ pyleng v to be
flat Gari bengbylokaw depylengok,
ytykyimu bengbyloke pylengok.
116
The car flattened the toad so the

toad was flat.
pyn- v to cover Ooo mykgythaldo
dongcha jywmangsama, ma
nang bimang sylwaai! Ma
pynwasama muni ang mykrenaw,
ma nangchi ganang atongba jadu
(Wilseng S Marak) Ooo, its not real,
its only a dream, but your body is
really beautiful! Are my eyes
covered by a spell, or do you have
something magic?
pyn- adj1 dense, thick
pyn- v to pack, to wrap up, to pack
in a banana leaf, to cook in a
banana leaf
pyndap- v to cover
-pyrak evsp V and cut Atakna ie
chola chetpyrakok? Why is this
shirt ripped to pieces?
pyrap- v to be too salty
pyryi- v to be mature
-pyryt evsp over-V Tyi glaschi
phingpyrytok. The glass is too full
of water.
pyryw- ~ pyru- v to pierce, to make
a hole in something
pyt- v to wrap neatly as a present
pyw- v to fly
pywgak- v to crash (in flight)
pywtaw- v to jump over something
Muraaw ang pywtawa. I jump
over the small stool.
R
ra- v to bring, give
ra- v to get, buy, take Nang ie
tupi bimi raak? Turami raak.
Where have you bought that
cap? I bought it in Tura. Ang
nangaw bebe racha. I dont
believe you. Wami jywmi
balgabaaw katha rachagabae
anga ytykgachina dongok.
Because I did not listen to the
words of my parents, I have
become like this.
raang- v to take away
ragat- v to start using
rasak- v to welcome Nangtym
angaw tyichi typratwaba nemariok
aro koksep chungkhuna
nangachym. Watyng tyngphekna
masu mangphek hynwa, gumukgamak angna masu mang rajasa
hynetwa angnado aro
tyinyngsangba nawmyl
sylsylgabasa rasaksawa. You
threw me into the water and that
was good, and I should have had a
bigger koksep. For every bamboo
strip they gave me a cow and in all
they gave me one hundred cows
and inside the water only beautiful
girls welcomed me.
rasek- v to accept, to receive
Angdo myngsa agrai
rasakchawa. I will not
accept/receive more than one
person.
rasek- v to snatch
rataw v see nakhung rataw
raani ~ rani n PERS queen, also
used to call your daughter when
she is a little child, like in English
little princess
rabak ~ rabak rabak adv quickly,
fast
rabal n PLANT rubber tree
Rabuga n PERS god who created
the world according to ancient
religion
rai n PLANT reed
rai- v to go; to come Hai, rainaka
Come on, lets go. Kynsangdo
117
raiwilokno alsia rajado. Later,

after the tiger had smelled the
scent of a human, it walked in
circles, it is said, around the lazy
king. Maisanaw sana
reengbutungchi sabutungchi
Nepal myngsa boba takgaba
raiawanoro. While they were
leaving to eat lunch, a crazy
Nepali came, it is said.
raia- v to come Phorenmi morot
raiadonga, phorensangmi
raiaidonga. Foreign people are
coming, they come from foreign
countries. Angdo hanep
nangsang reengni. Raiabo.
I will go/come to your place
tomorrow. Come.
raibyt- v to carry around
raichak n ART big leaf used to
pack food
raiganggang- v to go/drive/ride
over things on a bumpy road
Rongaw raiganggangwa. I
bumped over a stone while going.
raiphak- v to hit with your elbow
while walking
rairam- v a motion like shit
coming out of the body
raisotwa n ACT shortcut
raiwil- v to walk around something
raidi n PLANT turmeric
raithai n PLANT tree with thorns
on its stem
raityng n PLANT cane
raityng n ART line (to dry clothes
on), washing line, clothes line
raityng tyng tham three washing
lines
raja ~ ratja num hundred rajasa
one hundred
raja n PERS king
rak- adj1 hard, difficult, loud
raka n ART/ACT, the first letter of
the Atong alphabet, glottal stop
rakhi- v to protect, to guard
(against), to keep, to look after
Ning habachi mongmana amakna
mai saniwana rakhiaronga. We
are protecting our dry rice and
vegetable field against elephants
and monkeys so that we will eat
rice. De, naa ichi musigabone
baisigane, biskut rakhibone
nookno. Ytykyimyng pheruba
chaw! thorokangokno. Okay, now
you stay here friend, Okay, guard
the biscuits, okay?, he said, it is
said. So then, the foxsplash!
jumped in, it is said. Myngsa
morot manai sagabachi wak
rakhina gaakoknoaro. He was
forced to look after the pigs of a
ritch person, it is said.
rakhigaba n PERS caretaker
ram n PLACE place. With this
meaning, the word is only found
compounded in names of places,
e.g. Balphakram the place where
the wind blows,
Matsachawkyiasetram the place
where the matsadu threw away
their weapons and Maisansaram
the place where the spirits of the
deceased eat their lunch.
ram n PLACE road, way, path ram
chol tham three roads, paths, ways
ram- v to dry in the sun, to put in
the sun to dry Garu balagachi
ramai tanaimuna, habasang ha
kamna reengokno. After she had
put the mustard leaves outside to
dry in the sun, she went to work in
the rice field, it is said.
ram- v to search, to want, to try
Ytykyimyng tedo
baisigathanggaba pheruaw
ramaimyng nukaiokno. So now,
118
having searched his friend the fox,

he found him, it is said. Wal
sengwachi thep thup noaimu
jalangokno. Uchie sansagabachi
gawigabado mai rymai sathirina
ramwachi: Ha ambi ang
chakaw khenetkhu nowano.
When dawn rose, she (Ambi
Chakkhen) ran away again tap,
tap, tap, it is said. Then, when the
wife wanted to eat rice again,
someone said: Hey, grand
daughter, scratch my arm!
Ytykyimuna mongma ytykyi hakha
wylna rambutungchi thikthak
saphawba tharapaioknoro. So
then, when the elephant tried to go
down the hill side, the rabit caught
up with it, it is said.
-ram evsp V inadvertently, V
unintentionally, V by accident
Phulistykyi nukramphinokno
bunduk paigana. They
inadvertently looked like the
police, because they were carrying
guns. Ytykyisa: Niwa, angdo
naru tokthirina nangni. Angdo
hanthiramai jamok nado So
then: I have not more [fish]. I will
need to grind more fish poison. I
unintentionally gave all my fish
away. Nukwanowana
mykchadamdamariate
teewrawraw gawie.
Chanchichypai teew nangaw
mykchani, umido alagaaw
mykchanaka. Ytykramaria. It is
said that because [whoever] they
see, theyll fancy one after the
other, Im telling you, the girls of
nowadays. Suppose, now [a girl]
will fancy you, after that shell
certainly fancy someone else. It
just happens like that and there is
nothing we can do about it. Tyt!
Diphuramama? nookno.
Hoong, manamaidongmo
noatakokno. Hey! Did you just
fart? he said, it is said. Yes, it
stinks, doesnt it? he said, it is
said.
ramga n PLACE the side of an
object that faces away from the
wall
ram rai- vpan to go Ytykyimu ie
habyritykyi ram raiano. So they
went over this mountain, it is said.
ramram adj2 ordinary, normal Ie
ramram dongcha. This is not
normal. Baisigathangmaran tyi
dukungokno. Nado
ramramanchakno. The friends
dammed the water. There was
plenty of fish.
-ramram evsp V normally, V
usually, V naturally, V commonly
Umigymyn teew nanang
hagylsakchiba phorenchiba,
Igylanchiba, Kalkata, Delhichi,
Bambechiba, Badrichiba,
Khychuchiba manramram
khymcha. Therefore, now, we
dont usually get and marry
someone from a foreign place,
from England, Kolkata, Delhi,
Mumbai, Badri or Khychu.
ran- adj1 to be dry
randai n FOOD/CORP meat, flesh,
body
rang n ART type of brass drum
(instrument)
rang n GEO rain Rang waaidong.
Its raining. Rang nemok. The rain
has stopped. Rang nemchengama
nanang chyw jamchenga noai
rangmu chyw ryngsusaie range
san chi byri wawano. Will the
rain stop first or will we finish our
liquor first? they said and while
competing in drinking with the
119
rain, the rain fell for fourteen days,

it is said.
rangset- v to breathe
rangbrym ~ rangbyrym n GEO
cloud
rangbyrym- v to be shrouded
in/blocked by clouds Rangsang
rangbyrymaidonga, rang
wanikhon. The sun is blocked by
the clouds, it might rain.
rangchinek n GEO cloud
rangdylekpa n GEO lightning
ranggorai n ANIM macaque.
Monkey with a long tail, brown
body and a red face.
ranggyl n CORP fungus infection
rangra n GEO sky
rangrai n PLANT species of tree
rangrengchongcheng
rongrengchangcheng adv
swaying from one side to the other
rangsan n GEO/TIME sun, day
rani ~ raani n PERS queen, also
used to call your daughter when
she is a little child, like in English
little princess
rap- v to thatch, to roof
=rara encl exclusively, only,
among, amongst Utyme morote
gawigababa biphagababa
bobirara bobararanowa. They,
these people, the wives and
husbands, are all crazy women and
crazy men, it is said.
rasi n star sign, good fortune
rasong n ACT boasting, praise
Rasong manai takokno usa,
chungchunggarangsa, udo
phylgymawdo jonggaba kawwano.
The eldest ones boasted a lot
(about themselves) although it had
been the younger brother who had
shot the eagle, it is said. Jisuna
rasong Praise Jesus.
rasun n PLANT onion rasun pibok
garlic rasun pisak red onion rasun
tyisuk species of onion
rasun tyisuk n PLANT spring
onion
-rat evsp V downward, V
downstream Mai bytwamungdo
pungchina songchina
khairata.Having harvested the
rice, it is carried down to the
granaries, to the village. Hare!
Phangnan dakang ang nukgaba
gorialdo chawsa
khengna nanga ido
Chawrataidonga ido. Huh?! In
the past, the crocodiles I saw
always swam upstream. This
crocodile has to be alive. It is
swimming downstream.
rat- v to throw Matsa rong ratwa. A
tiger threw a stone.
ratat- v to take out
ratsok- v to miss the mark
raw- adj1 tall, long
raw- v to catch Changba bydyi
myngsa khen rawarong
Somebody, an old man, is catching
river crabs. Uchie songmyng
morotmyng jyrym thymaimyng
Thengthonaw rawokno
pyigoropokno. Then the people of
the village, having quietly lain in
ambush, caught Thengthon, they
grasped him all together, it is said.
rawreng- adj1 slender and long
rawsoksok- v to fail to catch
-rawraw evsp continue to V,
countinuously, increasingly
Kynsangdo raiwachie napitdo
mongma matsana nekarawrawna
kyreethyngaimyng phepmyng
120
galsyrangokno napitdo. Later,

when [the animals] were coming,
he feared the tigers, the elephants,
the ones that were
continuously/increalingly coming
closer, so much, he fell out of the
banyan tree, it is said, the barber.
Banggaldo tharapna guduk
takwachiba, tarakai jalariano
magachake. Ytykyimyng
bakrawraw bakrawraw
janangoknowa. When the Bengal
almost reached it, the deer just ran
fast, it is said. So then, chasing it
continuously, they got far away, it
is said. Angdo teewrawrawdo
suffering.
rawsykot- v to slip out of the hand
reeng- v to go, to go away, to leave
Bisang reengwa naa? Usang
nalsasang reengwa. Where do
you come from? I come from
the other side of the river.
Kynsange nygyltyi ni reengwachi
thikthak jahas kanachina
dongangok. Later, when she had
been going for two weeks, she
arrived exactly at the ship and the
harbour. Garu balagachi ramai
tanaimuna, habasang ha kamna
reengokno. Having put the
mustard leaves outside to dry, she
went to the haba to weed. Hanep
nanang myngni Turasang
reengnine. Tomorrow the two of
us will go to Tura, OK? Angdo
hanep nangsang reengni.
Raiabo. I will go/come to
your place tomorrow. Come.
rekoksi n PLANT species of plant
redio n ART radio
reel n ART train, rail, stud of a
fence
reelgari n ART train
rek n PLANT banana tree
rekhep n PLANT species of huge
beans
rekhep- v to be dry (of plants), to
be wrinkled (of person)
rekkun n PLANT banana flower
rekphang n PLANT banana tree
rekphul n PLANT non-edible
banana flower
rekthai n PLANT banana
rens n ART wrench
repa chepa adv in various places
reprep- v to rub the clothes while
doing the laundry
ret n ACT childrens game played
in a grid. There are hunters who
may only move along the lines of
the grid. The other children have
to try to cross the grid without
being touched by a hunter.
rewet n PLACE riverside,
riverbank
=ri ~ =ryi encl without
Hagylsakchi anga jykri muwaba,
uanarinaka, sari parangwaba,
uanarinaka. I lived in the world
having lost a wife, and it will just
be like that, and I wandered
around having lost my children, it
will just be like that.
ri n BODY penis ri goini two
penises
riambanthai n BODY glans penis
ribaw n PERS person with one
testicle bigger than the other
riganthong n BODY erect penis,
erection, hard-on Nangchi
riganthong ganang. You have an
erection/ a hard-on.
121
rigol n PERS penis (used as

swearword for men), dick
rikaran ~ rikeren n BODY
testicle, balls, scrotum rikaran
rong ni two balls, testicles
rikhuchul n BODY foreskin
rikun n BODY glans penis
rimyn n BODY male pubic hair
ripan n ART a short dress that
women wear around the waist
riros n CORP sperm, semen
risokop n BODY scrotum
rityi ~ riti n CORP sperm, semen
rijap n PLACE forest reserve
rimirimi adv used in the expression
Mykren rimirimi takaidong. My
eyes are closing because Im so
tired.
rimyl- adj1 slippery
rin- v to keep as domestic animal
ring n PLANT taro, species of
edible tuber
ringaba n PLACE place where you
keep a domestic animal, fishery
riphi- ~ ryphi- v to plaster (with a
mix of clay and cow dung)
riprip- v to rub
roal n PLACE (lower) primary
school
robol n ART/ACT football, soccer
robolphil ~ robolpil n PLACE
soccer field, football field,
playground
rochok ~ rotchok n ART ART
stud, vertical beam that forms part
of the side of a house to which the
damdyl can be attached
rochong n PLANT tree stump
=rogoi encl alternative enclitic
bajurogoi friends
rok- v to shave Kamyn rokai
matok. I cut myself while shaving
my beard.
rokhom n ABSTR shape, type
rokset- v to wipe off
romrom- v to roll
romthom- v to be spherical Robol
romthoma. A football is round.
rong clf classifier for small round
objects, money, small stones,
seeds, stones in a game (when they
have a value) and fruits, default
classifier for counting buchuot
rongsa one mango tangka
rongchek ten rupees
-rong evsp usually V Thawgaba
symgaba phangnan
sarongchagaba jilami
jykthangthangaw
jumuphynetaaknowa. Having
brought and given tasty and sweet
things from the district which are
usually never eaten, they slowly
recollected all their husbands who
had run away into the jungle, it is
said.
rong n GEO colour
rong- v see chasu rongaimu mua
rong n GEO stone rong thut sa
one stone rong rong sa one small
round stone in a game
rongbaram n GEO type of rock
rongcheret n GEO pebble size
stone
rongchun n SUBST lime stone
rongchung n GEO big rock
rongchung thut sa one rock, one
big stone
rongchyret n GEO very small
stone
122
rongdep- v to crush with a stone

ronggyrym ~ rongrymrym adj2
GEO being full of big rocks, stony
land Ie ram ronggyrymrara, angdo
raichawa. This road is full of big
stones, I will not go.
ronghancheng n GEO
sedimentary rock
rongka n PLACE cliff
rongkhal n PLACE space under a
stone Ichi rongkhalchi khen
ganangthelnaba ganang. Here in
the spaces under the stones there
are river crabs for sure.
rongkhobok ~ rongbok n GEO
chalk
rongkhol n GEO cave
rongmisi n GEO very small stone
rongpatal n GEO big rock
rongphek n GEO a grain of sand
or very small stone
rongrymrym ~ ronggyrym adj2
GEO being full of big rocks, stony
land Ie ram ronggyrymrara, angdo
raichawa. This road is full of big
stones, I will not go.
rongsa n ART whetstone, flat
stone for sharpening knives or
edged tools
rongsyl n GEO flint stone
rongsyrek n GEO small stone
rongthai n ART base stone on
which a house is built
rongthai n GEO a rock
rongthyk n GEO a big rock
rongkhym n ANIM species of
yellow beetle
rongmesak n SUBST uranium
rongmyng- v to shuffle cards
-rongreng evsp V while spinning
around Ytykyimuan rung
chawchiba rung
bytrongrengarinowachie,
sangkhyning noaimung. So, when
you want to row the boat, and the
boat is just driven round and
round, it is the water dragon, it is
said.
rongrengchangcheng adv swaying
from one side to the other
rongrong- v to slide over
something
rongthal- v to clean, to clarify, to
explain
rongthala- adj1 clean
rongtyk n ART large clay pot to
keep rice in, rice pot
ronok- adj1 smooth
rophil- ~ rophyl- v to joke
roprop- v to crumble
ros n PLANT/
FOOD/BODY sap, juice (of meat
and fruit), sperm, semen,
rot- v to boil (something in water)
rotchok ~ rochok n ART stud,
vertical beam that forms part of
the side of a house to which the
damdyl can be attached
rothop n PLANT species of plant
from which you can make a type
of popcorn
rubibal n TIME Sunday
ruchut- v to join, to connect Sala
burbok sagyrai naa ningaw
halakhagabaai noaimungna
bunduk raasetetaimungna uaw
sagyraiaw gadakchichiokno.
Gadakchichiaimuna
singsingkholongsang typsetyi
tanangokno, typsetyi tanangokno.
[] Ytykyimuna uba
ruchutethiriaimungna
raiaronganoro. Damn you
stupid child who disturbed us!
they said and they took out their
123
guns and smashed the child into

pieces, it is said. Having smashed
him up, they threw him into a deep
hole in the ground and left him
there, it is said. [] But then it
came (home) back after it had
joined together again, it is said.
ruda n PLANT species of cactus
rugung n PLACE edge Tedo
hawchi chiakol rugungchi
jywsawaidongnote, magachakdo.
Now, he was lying at the edge of a
deep well, it is said, the deer.
-ruk sfx reciprocal suffix Nanange
song janrukok. Our villages are
very far apart from each other.
Jalangaimyng kysangdo
jangabami ytykyi olrukokno.
Having run away, later, from afar
they spoke to each other like this.
Songsami songsigachina
nawrukok tanrukok. From one
village to another they scold each
other, they slay each other.
Nangtyme goi byisyk
manphawa ie bylsie? noai
syngrukthoka. How many did
you get this year? everybody asks
each other.
rukchok ~ lukchokchok n ANIM
species of frog
rukpek ~ lukpekpek n ANIM
species of frog
rukwak ~ lukwak n ANIM toad
-rum evsp V with a group, all/
everyone/everybody/everything V
Mai sarumokma? Has everybody
eaten rice? Wa bairumok
balwaaimu. All the bamboo has
broken because of the wind.
rum num twenty. This word is
only used in compound numerals
rumtham sixty.
rumal n ART head band
rung n ART logboat, dugout boat.
river boat made out of a hollowed
tree trunk rung khan sa one boat
rungkhut n FOOD broken rice
runi n BODY brains
rupek ~ rukpek n ANIM species of
small frog which says
pekpekpekpek
-rura evsp V up and down, V back
and forth, V and the opposite
motion Tedo raisotwae
tawangaimu ue Grip nok
hamgabatykyisa wylangthiriokno.
Ytykyimu rairuraai rairuraaimu
noai. Now, having gone up the
shortcut via the Grip House, he
went down again, it is said. So he
went up and down, up and down,
it is said.
rurong- v GEO to landslide ha
runonga there is a landslide
-ruru evsp more and more, V
around, V all over the place, V
through Tamai chaichie tedo
byirakhem hongkhotruruaimu
kaksyrangokno pheruawdo. While
he was trying to beat the drum, the
bees swarmed out and stung the
fox all over, it is said.
ruru- v to make liquid come out
ry- v to carve
rydym- v to sprout leaves
rygyn n PLACE side rygynchi near,
next to Ang choki rygynchi
chapaidonga. Im standing next to
the chair.
=ryi ~ =ri encl without
Hagylsakchi anga jykri muwaba,
uanarinaka, sari parangwaba,
uanarinaka. I lived in the world
having lost a wife, and it will just
be like that, and I wandered
around having lost my children, it
will just be like that.
124
ryk n ART necklace

ryk- v to chase, to herd Sagyrai
masu rykarok. The children are
herding the cows. Taini kakai
sachongmotnaka noaimyng
rykaidokno magachakaw
banggale. Today I will really
devour it, the Bengal said and
chased the deer, it is said.
rym- v to cook
rymkhap- v to cook without maityi
~ maiti Angdo jabek rumkhapni.
I will cook curry without maityi ~
maiti.
rymreng rymreng adv dazed
rymyl n KIN (1) marriageable
female cousin, (2) the relation of
female cousins from
couple, (4) girlfriend, lover,
sweetheart
rymyt adj2 yellow, orange
ryng- v to drink, to smoke, to
celebrate (by drinking) Tyi ryngbo.
Drink water. Sigyret ryngbo.
Smoke a cigarette. Dakangdo,
mamung khem niwachido,
dymchyrangsangsa chywgyn
ryngwano, achu ambi niamdo.
Long ago, where there were no
drums, our ancestors used to
celebrate chywgyn only with string
instruments, it is said.
ryng- v to sing
ryngchyw n FOOD flat-rice
ryngchyw saa to celebrate the
flat-rice festival, or, to eat flat rice.
ryngchyw sywai saa to celebrate
the flat-rice festival
ryngchyw ~ ryngchu n FOOD
flattened rice
ryngkhaw- v to drink sneakily
ryngkhele- v to drink for fun
ryngreng- v to shake your head
ryp- v to dive, to be/stay under
water, to immerse, to submerge
thorokangokno. Thorokangaimyng
hawtyi rypokno magachake. Bewal
rypaimyng phetaakno. So then, the
deer, having put the biscuits on the
river bank, splash! jumped in, it is
said. Having jumped in, he stayed
under water for some time, it is
said, the deer. Having stayed
under water for some time, he
emerged, it is said.
ryphi- ~ riphi- v to plaster (with a
mix of clay and cow dung) Nok
riphiaidong. Im plastering the
(floor of) the house.
ryt- v to pick up, to collect
S
sa- ~ sai- vtr to set as a trap, to set
in place, to do Jaga saakno uchie,
taw pangai banokno. They set
traps and then caught many birds,
it is said.
sa interj interjection to chase away
a chicken
sa num one, a/an. Combined with
the attributive enclitic =gaba ~
=ga, the form sagaba ~ saga can
mean first, or onethe other.
Ue gawichi sa myngkorok
ganangnoro aro detheng pipukchi
ganangkhua myngsa. That
woman had six children, it is said,
and in her belly she had one more.
Uchie ramchi pheru mangsa
gorongwano. Then they met a fox
on the road. Unasa boba
myngsagaba teew abun boba
nukaisigaakno. Then the first fool
saw another fool, it is said.
125
Songsagabaaw Songmong
myngwanowa, songsagabaaw
Songgadal myngwanowa. One
village was called Songmong, it is
said, the other village was called
Songgadal, it is said.
sa- v to be ill, sick, to hurt, to be in
pain dykym sa- to have malaria,
=sa encl delimitative Nangmi
jorado nangmi madamsate! Your
lover is no one other than your
teacher! Morot myngsasa
bytangwano. Only one man led
him away, they said.
Dakanggabado
jineralmitingchengni. umungsa
songgumuk thomaimung haba
haryn harynaw sowalni. In the
beginning they begin with a
general meeting. Only then, after
the whole village has gathered
together, they will divide the rice
field plot by plot. Songgumukan ue
mongmawana waikhurutaisa boli
hynaisa manai sathokwano. The
whole village, precisely because
they prayed to the elephant tusk
and precisely because they gave
offerings, they all became rich, it
is said.
sa n PERS child
sa- v to eat, to celebrate (by eating)
Maijyreng sacha, wakna. You
dont eat dried rice, its for the
pigs. Darai warem saak. The
sword has rusted. Getheng gol
saak. He has got/kicked a goal (in
football). Mamathanggaba
samynchykgana khyrethangaw
raai sanaka. Mothers brother
will marry his daughter to her
cousin. Song damsachi morot
manai sagaba ganangnochym. In
a village lived a rich man.
(Literally a man who eats in great
amounts.) Gethengdo morot wa
saagaba. He is a tough person.
(Literally He is a person who eats
bamboo). Nange bichi krismas
sanima? Where will you celebrate
Christmas? hawai kamai sagaba
someone who works hard and
struggles to survive.
sa bana sa- to go into labour.
Ytykyimuna jywgado noksangdo
oganangarok nookona, sa bana
saarokno. Ytykyimuna morotdo
myngsaba niokno. Ytykyimuna
kynsangdo uchian dyngdang sa
baaknoSo then, the mother was at
home, pregnant. She was going
into labour; but there was nobody
there. So then, she gave birth to
the child by herself.
sabanthai n KIN son. This word is
also used to talk about the male
children of my elder or younger
brother.
sadaiburung n PERS child born
out of an incestuous relationship
sadap- v to spill, to take more and
more
sagyrai n PERS child
Sagyraiwana khymchawa.
Because shes a child I will not
marry her.
sagyrai odek n PERS baby
sakhaw- v to steal Hai baisiga
biskut sakhawna noaidongano.
Come on, my friend, lets steal
the biscuits, he said, it is said.
sakhele- v to eat for fun
salak- v to lick
sama n PLANT species of tree
samynchyk n KIN daughter. This
word is also used to talk about the
male children of my elder or
younger brother.
126
sanala ~ sanyl- vgoal to be

jealous of Getheng angna
sanala. Hes jealous of me.
Getheng angna jama sanyla,
Hes jealous of my shirt.
sarong adj2 to be of the same age
sathup n BODY uterus, womb
sathyra n KIN stepchild
sawynja n TIME (archaic) July
sabisi n ABSTR disease
sabun n ART soap sabun thut ni
two bars of soap
sadai n PLANT species of tree
sadu n KIN brother-in-law: the
relation of men who married
women that are sisters. sadu
chunggaba the elder brother of a
sadu. sadu mylgaba the younger
brother of a sadu
sagal n GEO sea
sai- ~ sa- vtr to set as a trap, to set
in place, to do Jaga saakno uchie,
taw pangai banokno. They set
traps and then caught many birds,
it is said.
sai n PERS husband
sai- v to choose, to select, to elect
sai- v to write
saido n ART fishing line
saigon n PLANT teak tree
saigyn n ACT the third weeding of
the haba. Mai kaimanwamungsa
hajagara kama. Hajagara
kamaisa kamaimung kynsange
jakun kama. Jakun kamaimungsa
nobembyl, oktobylsomaichi saigyn
khana. Umungdo mai mynokodo
maidan syla thoka. Having planted
the rice, we weed the land for the
first time. Having cleared the
weeds for the first time, we will
clear them for a second time.
Having weeded the land for a
second time, in October or
November we do a third weeding.
Then, when the rice is ripe, we
celebrate the new rice festival.
saikhiribudu n PLANT species of
creeper
sainokga(ba) n PERS author
saip ~ saep n PERS European,
white person, British military
commander
sajin n CORP illness that makes
everything taste bitter
sak- adj1 red
-sak evsp V appropriately
sak- v to bear, to persevere, to
endure, to enjoy, to hold out, to be
patient, to suffer Rangsan sakna
manchaaimyng nokchi dangok.
Not being able to bear the sun
anymore, he went into the house.
balwa saka to enjoy the wind Naa
ie sastiaw rakna manchido
jokangni. If you can endure this
punishment, you will be freed.
Gongwanasa balwa sakai
muarong" noatakokno amakba.
Im just sitting here enjoying the
wind because I want to, said the
monkey. Aiaw! Biskynba bylsi
nidyrang dongphinai duk
sakwachido dethengna mamyng
tangka poisa, dethengmi duk
sakwana, wak rakhiganaba,
tangka poisa hynchano. Oh!
Approximately two years have
passed in which he suffered from
sorrow, he got no money for his
suffering and for the pig keeping
they gave him no money either.
sak- v to fit Angdo maja 13 tarikchi
chaphang phang 99 ang nok
rygynchi kaiok. Te'ew phang 150darang sakkhunichym. A few days
127
plants behind my house. Now I

might fit another 150 or so more.
sak- v to make a rope by rubbing
thread between your hands
sak- vgoal to depend on Ang
maharina sakaidong. Im
depending on my family.
sakchik- v to soak Teew wensa
rypai nangdo nemen sylnaka
noaidongano pherue.
sakchyk- v to behave well Ie
sagyrai sakchykna mancha.
These children cannot behave
well.
saket- v to insert, to plug in
sakhap n PLANT species of tree
sakhapnathyng n PLANT species
of tree
sakhi n PERS witness
sakhyna- v to be wounded
saknaram ~ salnyram n PLACE
east
sakrem- v to twist
salwareng n PANT species of
plant to make brooms to sweep the
compound outside the house
salam- ~ selem- ~ serem- ~ saramv to break/tear easily, to be easily
damaged Ie mudupan serema. This
papaya tree breaks easily.
salam interj hello
salgypeng n PLACE south
salgyro n PLACE north
Saljong n PERS sun god
salniram n PLACE west
salnyram ~ saknaram n PLACE
east
sam clf classifier for hands, arms,
legs, feet, ears and tires nakhal
samsa one ear cha samsa one
leg/foot taiyr samni two tires
sam n PLANT/FOOD plant, weed,
medicine
sam- v to wait Mosa naa sambota.
Hynniba nangna teen. Hey
friend, wait! I will give it to you,
ok, later.
samalmaisirong n ANIM very
small species of ant
samanggri ~ samanggyri n
PLANT species of plant
sambanggyri ~ sambanggri n
PLANT medicinal plant that stops
bleeding. Uching chaaw
kakaimu, sambanggyri
tokdepdepaimu phawa. Because a
leech bit him on the foot, he
crushed sambanggyri and put it on
the wound.
sambarat n PLANT touch-me-not
plant, mimosa pudica. Species of
plant that closes its leaves when
you touch it
samchak n FOOD vegetable
samkong n PLANT high grass
sampattar n PLANT species of
plant
samphat n ART fee payed to a
medicine man (oja) for his
services
samsai n PLANT low grass
samsi n PLANT grass
samsin maiphara n CORP small
boil
samsin n CORP big boil, abscess
samthai n PLANT species of plant
samtokjang n PLANT species of
plant
samycheng ~ sasyri n CORP
bladder infection
san tw day Range san chi bri
wawano. The rain fell for fourteen
days, it is said.
san- v to heal
128
san- v to put in a bag

sanarai n ANIM centipede
sandi- v to inquire, to search for
Abu, angdo dadaparaaw
sandiedongachym nookno. Ha?
Dadaparaaw? Nang dadaparado
usang phylgym chunggaaw kawna
reengwanote. Grandma, I am
searching in vain for my elder
brothers he said. Huh? Your
elder brothers? Your elder brothers
went that way to shoot the big
eagle!
sang bound side, place (see also
sangphak) chamasang
downstream, bottom of a hill
khambaisang ~ khambaisang
upstream, top of a hill
sang- v to burn Ie pan nemai
sangni. This wood will burn well.
=sang encl mobilitative/
instrumental Songsang
reengnima? Will you go to the
village? Ang rongsang depywaw
ratwa. I hit the snake with a stone.
Ang ie biskutaw tangkasang
rawa. I bought the biscuits with
money.
sangkhyning ~ sangkhyni n SUPER
mythycal water dragon that lives
in the Symsang river.
sangmaracha n KIN two persons
from the same mahari who got
married
sangori n GEO fog
sangphak ~ samphak bound side
isangphak this side usangphak that
side habyrisangphak the side of
the mountain Ytykyimuna
khambaisangmi dinggaraimi
chaichiba, uchiba naan niokno.
Uchiba matdam saakno uawba.
Ytykyimuna san thongsachinado
sathiriokno. Sathiriaimungna umi
chaithirichiba, ba, matdam
saakno, aro kynsang
gasamsangphak chaithirichi
uawba matdam saakno. So then,
whenever he went to inspect the
fish trap, then there were no fish, it
is said. An otter had eaten it. So
then, he set his traps out in the
river again for half the day, it is
said. Having set out the traps,
when he later inspected them
again, well, the fish had all been
eaten, it is said, and later, when he
looked again in the evening, an
otter had eaten them again, it is
said.
sangwal- v to forget
sanmaji n TIME noon, midday
sanyrai n ANIM centipede
sap- v to swoop down (of birds of
prey)
sap- vsec to know a skill Bildo
teewba gore dungna sapchanotyi.
Bil does not know how to ride a
horse, it is said to my surprise.
saphairam n PLANT species of
medicinal plant
saphang n ACT first rice harvest
(in August)
saphaw n ANIM rabbit
sapset- v to drain piseri sapsetbo
drain the fish-tank
sarai n CORP a cut, sarai mat- to
cut someone
saram n ACT new rice offering
festival in which the first rice is
offered to the gods or spirits
saram n FOOD dry rice grains
Saram sywai saa. Dry rice grains
are flattened (by pounding them
with an asam in an aman, and
eaten.
sarat n PLANT species of plant
129
saraw- v to borrow Bengmi tangka

sarawni angdo. I will borrow
money from the bank. Ang
nangna tangka sarawai hynni. I
will lend you the money.
sari- v to hide something
sari- vgoal to ignore someone (out
of shame or hatred) Ang
gethengna saria. I ignore him.
sasep n CORP chicken pox, small
pox
sasti n ACT punishment
Sakhawchido naa sasti manni.
If you steal, you will be punished.
sasyri ~ samycheng n CORP
bladder infection
sat clf classifier for bundles garu
sat tham three bundles of mustard
leaves
sat- v to flush out
sat- v to hit with a stick or bat, to
cut with a sword
sat- v to spill
satha ~ sytha n ART umbrella
satha khung byryi four umbrellas
sathup n PERS sick person
satkhap- v to box, to slap
satpyret- v to hit with the open
hand
-saw evsp V expectantly, V and
wait, keep V-ing, V and stay, V
patiently, V certainly, V
persistently Getheng
pyitynggaba pandala wacheksi
pangaimyng morotaw
nukphinanchak, pan wa balwana
balphakgabatykyi
nuksawphinokno. Ytykyimynge
teawdo usang raja takrukna
samsawgabado: Atakgabaan
tainido raiaidok?! Because of
the many twigs and bamboo stalks
he ha grabbed, and which had
stuck to him, he did not look much
like a human anymore, he
certainly looked like a tangle of
blown-together plants. So then, the
king, who was expectingly waiting
said: Whats that coming
today?!
saw- v to be rotten
saw- v to curse at (use bad words)
saw- v to dig Nokdanggumuk
gopram sawwa habyri nalsasang.
The whole family dug graves at
the other side of the hill. Uchie
Thengthon khudalsang haaw
sawaidongano. Sawaidongano,
thywangaidokno, chakyw
chyigykdarangdo. Then
Thengthon is digging in the
ground with a chopper, it is said.
He is digging and he is getting
deep, it is said, about ten knees
deep.
saw- vtr to burn, to roast on the hot
ashes of the fire
Nokphandaidyrangaw sawaimung
nok phandai dokhakhuchi
khachapai tangaba mongma wa
bachelors houses, they took the
20 KG weighing elephant tusks
which were tied to the dokhakhu
and ran away, it is said. Ramchi
agal sawgaba ganang. On the
road is a burning forest fire. Jaryt
sawai, mantaw sawai,
maichengmung nalammung
thiksa berengai saa. We roast the
chilli pepper, we roast the brinjal
and cook it until it is well done
with maicheng (a species of leafy
green) and nalam (a species of
fish) in a bamboo tube and eat it.
ang nok sawok I have burnt the
house down.
130
sawkhyn n ANIM vulture

sawmyk- v to smell rotten, to smell
foul
sawsaw- v be able to cause a
burning sensation
sawel ~ sawyl ~ jingka ~ jingkha n
PLANT species of vegetable
sawkun n ANIM vulture
sawn n ACT sound
sawthal n PERS dirty person,
person who never washes
=sega ~ =siga encl the other, next
Morotmi morotsigaaw jongmi
jongsigaaw baisakrara kakrukok.
songsami songsigachina nawrukok
tanrukok. Fellow men and
brothers fought with each other
among friends. From one village
to the next, people scolded each
other and slew each other. Sunibal
sanchi Jadi reengwano
biphagabae. Uchie sansegachi
phetano. On Sunday, the lad went
to Jadi market. Then, he arrived
the next day. Umyng kynsangsiga
teew chanchichypai dolsangmyng
teedo raiasiganaka. Again, after
that, supposing that another person
from the group now will come.
-sega ~ -siga evsp V in turn,
(alternative suffix for verbs)
Ytykyimyng chepgaba dengaimyng
getheng hongkhotokno.
Ytykyimyng Nepalaw khaaimyng
koksepchi chepetsigaaknoro. Uchi
nookno. So then, having untied the
prisoner, he came out. So then, he
tied up the Nepali, and locked him
up in the cage. Then, the Nepali
said: You now take care of my
hundred cows, OK?
-sek evsp to V and steal
sekari n ART pin lock
sekyn tw second
sel- v to leak Tenkimi mobil
selarong. Oil is leaking from the
tank.
sel- v to pour
selsoksok v to masturbate, to wank
Ri selsoksokni angdo. I will
wank.
selu n ANIM cockroach
-sem evsp certainly V Gorialdo
iskyn san somai jarawachina duk
manaidokno. Niwa ido pherudo.
Ang saawdo poresemetchagaba
kakai sana nangok ido
noaimung chanchichypai gorialba.
The crocodile was sad for a long
time. The fox was gone. He has
probably eaten my children, who
are certainly not studying, the
crocodile thought.
-seme evsp V reluctantly
sendel ~ sendyl n ART sandal,
sendel jora ni two sandals
sene num seven
seng- adj1 clever, intelligent
seng- v to bother by misbehaving
seng- v to shine, to dawn, to
become light Wal sengwachi
Sijunygylsang reengni. At dawn
we will go to Siju market.
sengkhi n ART traditional belt
made of ivory beads
sengsot- v to abbreviate Ue
habyriawe sengsotai Matsa
Changkui myngsigaariok. That
mountain is just called Matsa
Changkui for short.
sengki n PLANT type of fruit
sengsyp n ANIM species of small
fish
sentimityr clf centimetre
131
sep- v to be stuck Wangai sachido

abongrandai wachi sepni. If I eat
the cob windingly the corn will get
stuck between my teeth.
sep- v to wring, to squeeze out
sepjyrot- v to wring
sepsep- v to masturbate, to wank
Ri sepsepni angdo. I will wank.
septembyl n TIME September
serabera n SUBST dirt serabera
tak- to be dirty Ang longpen
raityngmi galaimu serabera
takthiriok. Because my trousers
have fallen off the clothes line
they have become dirty again.
serek n PLACE surface
serek n PLACE balcony of a rice
field house
serekmyk n MSRE the length of
one forearm
serem- ~ salam- ~ selem- ~ saram
v to break/tear easily, to be easily
damaged Ie mudupan serema. This
papaya tree breaks easily.
serembut n ANIM species of fish
-set evsp V and do away with, V
and dispose of, V away Palyngchi
songsetokno, hathapyra
hanggaldarangawdo. In the
jungle, he stored the ashed and
cinders away. Tokkyreng
tanthongaimungna kynsangdo
dykymawdo jytsetetokno. After
cutting its troat, he moved the
head out of the way.
Gadakchichiaimuna
singsingkholongsang thypsetai
tanangokno. They cut him in
pieces and threw him in a deep
hole in the ground, where they left
him.
si- v to peel
si- v to starve Ang pisachi amapara
babapara kanggal dongwana
saa siwa. When I was a child,
because my mother and father and
their families were poor, we
starved for food. khathong si- to
feel pity Angdo ue sagyraina
khathong sia. I feel pity for that
child.
=si ~ =syi ~ =thai ~ =tyi encl
mirative, This enclitic indicates an
emotion of surprise, annoyance or
anger on the part of the speaker.
Atongtykyi taini jabek
thawoksyi? Why is the cury so
tasty today? Im surprised.
Ytykyimuna nukoknotyi phylgym
chunggaaw. So then, he suddenly
saw the giant eagle. Rang nemchie
ataknakasyi? Now that the rain
has stopped, what the heck shall
we do? Gadakchichiaimuna
uba sagyraiba jumu
si- v to sharpen (a pointy object)
siwil- v to carve, to sharpen a
pointy object
sidai n PLANT species of tree
sidikeset n ART CD, compact disc
=siga ~ =sega encl the other, next
(See =sega.)
-siga ~ -sega evsp V in turn,
(alternative suffix for verbs)
Ytykyimyng chepgaba dengaimyng
getheng hongkhotokno.
Ytykyimyng Nepalaw khaaimyng
koksepchi chepetsigaaknoro. Uchi
nookno. So then, having untied the
prisoner, he came out. So then, he
tied up the Nepali, and locked him
132
up in the cage. Then, the Nepali

said: You now take care of my
hundred cows, OK?
sigyret n FOOD cigarette sigyret
ryng- to smoke a cigarette
Sijyw n PLACE Siju
sik- v to scratch, to pinch
sikol n ART a chain
siksik- v to scrape, to rub
silongket n PLANT Shillong tree
sima n PLACE boundary, limit
simen n SUBST cement
singho n ANIM lion
singsingkholong n PLACE deep
hole in the ground
singsip n ANIM species of fish
sinthong- v to cut/break in two
pieces ,to cut/break in half
sintongtong- v to cut up in many
pieces
sip- v to smell
sipai n PERS soldier
sipyling ~ spyling ~ spling n ACT
spelling Atong khuchukmyng
sipyling/spyling/spling rakancha.
The spelling of the Atong
language is not difficult.
siri ~ suri n SUBST snow
sirimynmyn tw at the break of
dawn
sirong n BODY scrotum
sisawkhyli n PLANT species of
tree
sisawmotgram n PLANT species
of tree
sit- ~ syt- v to take out the shit from
an animals intestines Angdo
masu pipuk sytaidong. Im taking
out the shit from the cows
intestines. Nangdo na pipuk
sitbo. Take the shit out of the
fishs intestines.
sit interj interjection to chase a cat
away
sitbyryt- vtr to scratch someone or
something
sithi n SUBST fermented rice from
which chyw is drawn by adding
water
ski- ~ syki- v to learn, to teach
skrin ~ sykrin n ART screen
skul n PLACE school
soot- v to kill, to murder
Chigachakchi Dibangkongdang
Umangchalmangsa mongmaaw
sootai matsaaw sootai
mutynwano. At Chigachak
Dibangkogdang Umangchalmang,
killing the tigers and killing the
elephants, lived as the leader.
sore n SUBST mica, precious
stone
sosorot- v to slip Ramchi
sosorotok. I slipped on the road.
soal- ~ sual- v to divide, to share
Songgumuk thomaimyng haba
haryn harynaw sowalni. The
whole village gathers and will
soalrukai hawa. As for those who
do not have a plot, those mutually
share and clear the land.
sojana n PLANT species of long
thin vegetable
sok n PLANT the new young leaves
of a plant (but not a tree) or
vegetable, a shoot, sprout
sok- v to succeed, to hold out Aia!
ido alsiado kakatyi! Sokchakatyi
angdo noaimyng matsado
jenetene jokaimyng jalangokno.
Jeez! That lazy person bites to
my surprise. I will not be able [to
fight]/ I will not succeed [to fight
with him], the tiger said and
133
having escaped somehow, he ran

away, it is said. Ytykyimyng
pherudo rypangthiriokno.
Phalthang sokwa dabatdo
tyinyngchi rongchi pyiaimyng
wa khuchengphinai
sakchikaidokno. So then the fox
soaked in the water again, it is
said. Until he could not hold out
any longer, he sat under water as
long as he could bear it, holding
on to a stone and biting his teeth
firmly together, it is said.
sokchuman ~ sokchuwan n
PLANT species of tree with
rotten-smelling white flowers
sokhop n ART cover, sheath
sokjong n PLANT species of tree
soksek- v to shake something
without picking it up
soksok- v to masturbate, to wank
soldi n CORP a cold, common cold
Soldi manok. I have caught a
cold.
sombal n TIME Monday
somphi n ACT a joke, a riddle
sona n SUBST gold
song n PLACE village
song- v to elect, to appoint Songchi
nokchi raja songna angawtara
nukariokno. Angaw
bytangaidonga, song damsachi
angaw raja songnino. In the
village the people wanted to elect
a king and they just saw only me.
They are carrying me away; they
will elect me king in a certain
village.
song- v to keep, to store
song- v to set up post, to dig a hole
and stick something in it so that it
keeps standing up, to raise
Wasung habykungchi songbo.
Dig a hole in the sand and put the
bamboo stick in it. Myngsene
bytwa motchagabaaw
manchagabaaw gudukchagabaaw
chaiaimu, Bandiba kawraw
bytjasaaimyng phalthang
phagongmathangchi phaiai
raiaaidonganote, Bandiba. Bandi
paianggabaaw mykren wathok
songphinai Gyrynggyrang
chaisymaidongano. Having
watched the seven unable men and
the pillar that does not move,
Bandi easily pulled the pillar out
and is carrying it on his shoulder,
it is said, Im telling you!
Gyrynggyrang is watching the
carrying Bandi with eyes raised on
bamboo sticks (i.e. attentively), it
is said.
songkhot- v to come out of a
narrow space
Songdu n PLACE the Brahmaputra
river Symsangdo Gohatichigaba
Songduna mylkhala. The Symsang
is smaller than the Brahmaputra in
Guwahati.
songga n PLACE another village
songgamyng morot a person from
another village
songkhamphek n PLANT/ART
forked branch or post
songkhel v to roll head first
songkhot- v to come out of a small
opening, to squeeze out of
songmong n GEO main village
songrai- ~ songre- v to travel
songrat- adj1 to be bent
songre- ~ songrai- v to travel
songsal n ACT society
songsykhep n ART big pincher
songsyrek ~ songsarek n PERS
pagan, heathen Dakangmi
pichammi kamdyrangdo ie
Garohils Habeng Harot Chisak
134
Rangtak Badrijol Kychujol

gumukan songsyrek
dongbutungchido bylongen
hansenga. In ancient times, when
the Habeng-Harot Chisak
Rangtak, Badri areas and the Koch
areas were all pagan, we were very
happy.
sorok n PLACE road, path, way
sork chol ni two ways, roads, paths
sorok- v to re-pound the rice
sorong- adj1 straight khaw soronga
straight hair
sorong adj2 straight
sorot- v to hold a ceremony or
celebrate in commemoration of a
dead person one year after they
died Ning achuaw sorotaidong.
We are celebrating/holding a
ceremony in commemoration of
our dead grandfather.
sosila n PLANT plant of the Arum
family with a pink inflorescence
consisting of an elongate or ovate
spathe (a sheathing bract) which
envelops the pink spadix (a flower
spike with a fleshy axis). This
plant looks remarkably like the
Amorphophallus bulbifer.
-soso evsp V to/on the ground
Nengdugaaimyng
musosoangokno. Having gotten
tired, he sat down on the ground.
-sot evsp V directlysot n ANIM
very small species of fly that
comes out in the evening and at
night and cause itchiness
sot- v to spit Ainachi sagyrai khuti
sotjaak. The child has spat on the
mirror again.
sotdok num sixty
sothonthara n CORP cancerous
swellings all over the body
sotmai n ANIM housefly
spit n ABSTR speed
spling ~ spyling ~ sipyling n ACT
spelling Atong khuchukmung
spyling/sipyling/spling rakancha.
The spelling of the Atong
language is not difficult.
spun n ART spoon
-srang ~ syrang evsp V very much,
V strongly, V completely, wholly
V, V till the end. Also used to
make things sound more emphatic.
ss interj interjection to chase away a
chicken
stel n ACT haughtiness, arrogance
Gethengchi stel panga. He/she is
very haughty. This word probably
comes from English style.
stulkhabar n ART tablecloth
su- v to scold
su- ~ syw- v to pound, to punch,
to prod, to inject, to crush Ang
khawchi mugaba khyrykaw
sywbone. Crush the lice in my
hair, will you?
su n BODY vagina
subylok- v to mash, to beat to a
pulp Beringwa mynwachido
subyloka. When the food cooked
in the wasung is ready, we mash
it.
sugol n PERS vagina (used as a
swearword for women), cunt, bitch
sukherek- v to crash down
Jariaimu sukherekaimu wa
khawsa baiokno. Wa khawsa
baiokno mongmaba. Because he
was startled, he crashed down and
broke one tusk, it is said. He broke
one tusk, it is said, the elephant.
sumyn n BODY pubic hair
(female)
sunadylep n BODY clitoris
135
supyrong- v to punch a hole

through something
suthat- v to prod, to poke
suut- adj1 damp
sua n ACT profanation
sual- ~ soal- v to divide, to share
Songgumuk thomaimyng haba
haryn harynaw sowalni. The
whole village gathers and will
soalrukai hawa. As for those who
do not have a plot, those mutually
share and clear the land.
suis n ART switch
suit n PLANT species of tree
suitbipha n PLANT species of tree
suk n comfort Juwna suk
dongancha. We did not sleep
enough.
suk- v to be well, to be comfortable,
to enjoy sexually Naa gawi
hatchido sukama? Do you enjoy it
when you fuck a girl?
suk- v to insert, to stitch
sukrung ~ sykrung ~ sukyrung ~
sykurung n ANIM river snail
suksai n PLANT species of plant of
which traditional umbrellas are
made
suksak adv uncomfortably, tossing
and turning
suksuk adv comfortably
Myngkorokawan monokaimu
kynsangdo utymdo suksuk
jywarokno pipuknyngchi,
phylgym pipuknyngchi. After it
had swallowed all six of them,
they had fallen asleep comfortably
inside its belly, indide the belly of
the giant eagle.
suksyrui n PLANT species of tree
of which the fruits can be eaten
sukulbal ~ sykulbal ~ sykubal n
TIME Friday
sukyrung ~ sykurung ~ sukrung ~
sykrung n ANIM river snail
sul adj 2 next, neighbouring song
sul the next/neighbouring village
sul- v to stretch out, to stick out, to
extend Chak rawkhalai
suletkhubo nowano. Chak
rawkhalai suletkhubo nowano.
Choisa choisa rawkhalai
nowano. Choisa rawkhalai
nowano. Una jomaimu
sinthongwachie: Aiaw! Noaimu
jalangokno. Stretch your arm
further, he said, it is said.
Stretch your arm further he said,
it is said. A little bit further, he
said, it is said. A little bit
further, he said, it is said. Having
sneaked up on her he cut it [the
arm of the hanging root witch] and
she said: Argh! and ran away, it
is said. thylamphak sul- to tick
out your tongue
sun ~ sundul n PLANT tree trunk
sun- v to move, to shift
sung clf classifier for hollow
cylindrical objects or tubes
wasung sungtham three bamboo
tubes
sung n ACT/ABSTR remembrance,
thought, mind, brain, intelligence,
spirit, life sung ra- to remember,
to think (of, about), to keep in
mind Isolaw sung raai je Kristen
donggabado Isol phiaia
sachengna. Thinking of God,
anyone who is a Christian will
pray to God and start eating.
Gethengchi sung ganang. He is
intelligent.
sung- adj1 short (of time, person,
thing)
136
sungchal- v to support (a structure)

sungman- ~ suman - vgoal/v to
remember. Some speakers mark
the second argument (the Theme)
with the goal enclitic and others
with the accusative. Nokchi ang
dyngdang muchiba, sungmaneta
anga nangna. (Aristo J Momin)
Whenever Im sitting at home
alone, I think of you.
Alternatively: Nokchi ang
dyngdang muchiba, sungmaneta
anga nangaw. When Im sitting at
home alone, I think of you.
sunibal n TIME Saturday
suri ~ siri n SUBST snow
-susa evsp V competitively,
compete in V-ing Ue hapchi
muwachi rangmu chyw
ryngsusawanasa
Hachykkhuchuksang mykha
badri noyi myngwano. When they
stayed in that place, because they
held a drinking competition with
the rain, they called it mykha badri
in Garo.
suset- ~ susut- ~ susyt- v to wash
susu n BODY penis
suthul n BODY comb of a rooster
suting n TIME taking pictures,
photo shooting
sutuk- v to put over, to cover, to
hide Mykhang baketchi sutuka.
Shes hiding her face in the
bucket.
swich n ART switch
syi n KIN uncle: mothers younger
brother
=syi ~ =si ~ =thai ~ =tyi encl
uba sagyraiba jumu
syimaran n KIN my syi and her
elder sisters child
syithai- ~ syithyi- ~ syithi- v to
hang Syithai tanarong raityngchi.
Its hanging on the washing line.
syk- v to insert, to be inserted, to
press, to push
syk- vsec to want Jywna
sykaidongkhua. I still want to
sleep. Nang syka Its up to you.
sykdep- v to press (with a finger)
syket- v to insert
sykhathang adv disorderly,
carelessly, simply, for nothing, for
free
sykhym- v to moan, to complain, to
feel sorrow, to mourn
syki- ~ ski- v to learn, to teach
sykjyret- v to crush with your hand
sykrin ~ skrin n ART screen
sykrom- v to grasp someone Thot
thyngthot takwachina dabat
sykromaimyng
khanetsigaaidongno. He (Bandi)
grasped her (Sore) and poured the
liquor into her mouth to the last
drop.
sykrung ~ sukrung ~ sykurung ~
sukyrung n ANIM river snail
137
sykulbal ~ sykubal ~ sukulbal n

TIME Friday
sykup- v to fold
syl- adj1 beautiful, pretty
Atongnawmyl sylate. Atong girls
are pretty!
syl n SUBST iron
syl- v see maidan or mai
sylet- v to pour in
syladyn n ART traditional necklace
sylasyng n ART necklace
syldangkhep n ART big pliers to
take pans off the fire
sylet- v to make beautiful
sylgythym n SUBST iron
sylkeng n ART hoop, ring
sylkengkun n ART stick to drive a
hoop
syltyi n SUBST hail, ice
sym adj1 sweet
-sym evsp V and follow, imitate in
V-ing, V attentively Bandi
paianggabaaw mykren wathok
songphinai Gyrynggyrang
chaisymaidongano. Gyrynggyrang
is attentlively watching the
carrying Bandi with eyes raised on
bamboo sticks (i.e. attentively), it
is said.
sym- v to follow Ang nangaw kyn
kyn symni. I will follow you
closely.
sym n SUBST salt
sym- v to soak, to make wet
symgong n PLANT species of plant
of which the red flowers are edible
and produce a lot of nectar which
you can shake out
symjin- v to have the sour-sweet
taste of a half-ripe fruit
sympak n PLANT species of tree
symphak n ART type of blanket
symsak- vgoal to care for/about, to
be careful about
Phalthangthangna symsakaribo,
jalthikaribo! Just care for
yourselves, just run away!
Nangmi amana kadangai
symsakbo. Take care of your
mother.
Symsang n PLACE the Symsang
river, also called Someswari
-symsym evsp V continuously
syn n ABSTR a smell Syn
manaidong. He smells something.
syn- v to lay on the bed
Thymanggami manggisiaw synai
tanok. We have lain the dead
persons corps on the bed. Ang
nono jywna synai tanok. I have
lain my younger sister on the bed
to sleep.
syng- v to ask Edinchi syngbo.
Ask Edin.
synggaba n ACT question
synggera n BODY moustache that
sticks out
synggi n ANIM species of fish
syngsyngkhol n PLACE deep hole
in the ground
syngsyngkholong n PLACE deep
hole in the ground
synthi- v to suffer, to regret, to
repent, to lament, to moan, to
whine Phepchi synthibutungchi
teewe napit myngsa
raiphaknoro. While he was
suffering in the banyan tree, a
barber came by.
sypsak- v to be scratched Ha
khamaimu chak sypsakarok. After
working in the field my arm is
scratched.
syrak syrak adv exactly, just
Nang syrak syrak takgaba
chaba nang takwa bimangba
138
nang takwa chakba nang takwa,

tyi khawetwa nowano. Bichi
ue? Hyiwae palyngchi. [Fox:]
Someone who looks exactly like
you, with legs like you, with a
body like you, with arms like you
is getting water, he said, it is said.
[Lion:] Where is he? [Fox:]
Way over there in the jungle.
-syrang ~ srang evsp V very much,
V strongly, V completely, wholly
V, V till the end. V very much, V
strongly, V completely, wholly V,
V till the end. Also used to make
things sound more emphatic. Hai!
Sigyret hynetsyrang naa, uaw!
Come on! Give the cigarettes,
those ones! Ryngarokno ytymba.
Myngsa ryngai chyiokno. Aiaw!
Angdo manchawa achu! Phekni
ido, phekni. Ningdo phylgymaw
kawna manchawa,
nuksyrangchakodo kynsangdo,
gachaka nookno myngsa. They
just smoked. One of them tried to
smoke. Wow! I cant do it,
grandpa! This will make me
drunk. We will not be able to
shoot the eagle, we will not see
anything later, it will not be good,
one of them said.
-syret evsp to V wrongly,
mistakenly
syrong- v to stretch
syrong- v to stretch out, to reach out
-syruk avsp to V secretively
syrup- v to suck
syryng adv not clearly Angdo
gethengmi balgaba syryng syryng
nawa. I did not hear clearly what
he said.
syryng n ANIM web (of spider)
syryng- v to stretch out (rope etc.),
to build a bamboo bridge
syt- ~ sit- v to take out the shit from
an animals intestines Angdo
masu pipuk sytaidong. Im taking
out the shit from the cows
intestines. Nangdo na pipuk
sitbo. Take the shit out of the
fishs intestines.
syt interj interjection to chase away
a cat
sytha ~ satha n ART umbrella
syw- ~ su- v to pound, to crush, to
punch, to prod, to inject Ang
khawchi mugaba khyrykaw
sywbone. Crush the lice in my
hair, will you?
syw n KIN grandchild
T
ta prtcl prohibitive particle Naa ta
dykyryngto! Dont make noise! Ta
ie nok dyngdang ham. Dont build
this house alone. Ta bong! Dont
lie!
=ta ~ =to encl emphatic imperative
Raiaboto! Come here!
Ytykyimyng sansachi umyng
gawigaba Bilaw kam khakhalna
hitoknowa. Naa
chaiphabota! nookno. So then,
one day, his wife commanded Bil
to work more. Try to do some
more work like other people! she
said.
tainep dtw this morning
taini dtw today Getheng
tainidarang raianikhon. He
might come sometime today.
taisa dtw a little while ago (today),
at a certain time in the past today
taisymphak n PLANT species of
tree
taia- v to pull
139
taija dtw last night Taija walchi

jywwachi jywmangsang
banggirigaba nukwa. Last night at
night when I was sleeping, I saw
an earthquake in my dream.
tainalap n PLANT algae
tairakrak adv not too big and not
too small Amakdo getheng
baisigathanggabamyng kynaw
rongpatal syltengbigabachi
kepreprep bamai hynbutungchi
pantong myk sa donggabasang
tairakrak takgabasang tep tep tep
tep tokaidoknoa. The monkey hit
his friend who was lying flat on
his belly on the very beautiful flat
stone with a stick of one myk,
which was made not too long not
too short, tap, tap, tap, tap on the
back.
taisympak n PLANT species of
tree
taiyr n ART tire taiyr
sam/rong/goitham three tires
tak- vB to do, to make, to pretend,
to act like Ie khamaw krymkraw
takna nangni. We will have to do
this work together. Magachake:
Hai baisiga biskut sakhawna
noaidongano. Hyt mancha
nangba atong budi nowano
pherue. Ang denggu takni naa.
Naa paiai jalbone noaidongano
magachakan. The deer said:
Come on, friend, I want to steel
those biscuits! What?! You
cant! What are you thinking?!
said the fox, it is said. I will do
some extortion. You carry the
biscuits and run away, ok? said
the deer, it is said. Tedo
magachakan khora takaidongano.
Now the deer is pretending to be
lame, it is said. Alsia rajae: Ie
gari biskyn? Hyw naa ranae
synge syngchagaba taknae
synge syngchagaba. The lazy
king asked: How much for this
bullock cart? Hey! As far as
your buying is concerned, you are
just acting like someone who asks
but who is not really interested.
Chigachakchi Dibangkongdang
Umangchalmangsa, mongmaaw
sootai matsaaw sootai
mutynwano. Uchi song damni
takwano. In Chigachak,
Dibangkongdang and
Umangchalmang, having killed the
elephants and tigers, lived as the
leaders, it is said. There they built
two villages, it is said. Ytykyimyng,
ha! wenni rypwachian miniksuru
takokno sylokno magachakmi
nyndo. So then, ha! when he had
bathed twice, his fur was flat, it is
said, it was beautiful, it is said, the
deers fur. Angdo masuba
pangphachaaimyng niwa,
jamaiawan tanawachym noai
golphoa takaidongano. Uchi
myngsagaba: Angdo jamaiawan
tanasyrangok mangthamawan
noai bala takaidongano. As for
me, I already had only a few cows,
and now there is not one left; I
slaughtered them all, he is telling,
it is said. Then another man says:
I slaughtered all three of them it
is said. Aia! Udo magachakdo
it run away fast, it is said, the deer.
=takai ~ =tykyi encl
perlative/similfactive Phulistykyi
nukramphinokno bunduk paigana.
They inadvertently looked like the
140
police because they were carrying

guns. Nanang Bagmaratykyi
reengni. We will go via/through
Baghmara.
takal ~ dakal n SUPER witch,
demon
takap- v to stick
takbewal n ACT tradition
takruk- v to fight Noksang
rainaba phaphinchaaidok.
Jebadong anga
takruksyrangarinaka. Matsami
chaphungaw wangjoloknoaro,
alsia rajae. I dont dare to go
home. Anyway, I will just fight to
the end. He bit the tiger on the
thigh, it is said, the lazy king.
Rongdyngmi oltoe, dakang somai
Jaksongram matsa nok phandaimi
matsamu Rongdyng maharimu
takrukwanowa. As for the
meaning of Rongdyng, in times
long ago, the tigers of Jaksonrams
tigers bachelors house fought
with the Rongdyng clan, it is said.
takruk- v to have an orgasm (for a
woman)
taksak- v to help
taksakgaba n ACT help
tala n ART a lock Tala thekbo.
Lock the lock.
tam- v to trim, to prune
tam- v to wait, to stop
tam- v to beat a drum, to play an
instrument
tama toka khjyks/v to play an
instrument
tamo ~ tamaw interj Wait!
tama n SUBST copper
tan- v to put, to stop Thengthon
tangkaaw raaimyng, uaw
kerengaw palyngchi gopai
tansigaakno. Thengthon took the
money and left those bones buried
in the jungle. Balai tanangok. I
have already said it. Angdo ytykyi
balaimyng tanarinaka. As for me,
having spoken like this, I will just
stop now.
tan- v see mykren tantan- v to cut, to cut up, to chop, to
chop up, to slay, to slaughter
Galaimuna kynsangdo
phylgymaw uan rykjolaimuna
kukuri byk hotaimuna
tokkyrengaw tanthongokno.
Tokkyreng tanthongaimungna
kynsangdo dykymawdo
jytsetetokno, ytykyimungna
pipukaw tanpyrakokno. Uchie
phalthangmi dadadyrangaw
nukokno, phawjonggarangaw.
After falling down, having run
quickly towards the eagle, having
drawn his knife, he cut the neck
off, it is said. After decapitating
the bird by cutting its neck, he
pushed the head away, it is said.
So then he cut the belly open, it is
said. Then he saw his own
brothers, his elder brothers, it is
said. Una phalthangmyng
masuthangthangaw tanaimyng
khaiangokno. Ramchi golphoanga
takaidongano: Angdo masuba
pangphachaaimyng niwa,
jamaiawan tanawachym noai
golphoa takaidongano. Then,
having slaughtered their own
cows, they carried them to the
market, it is said. On the way, they
are taking, it is said. I dont have
many cows, but I would have
slaughtered all of them anyway,
he said while chatting, it is said.
tanchekchek- v to cut into small
pieces
141
tancholeng- v to cut a piece out of

something
tanpat- v to be oblique
tanpyrak- v to cut open Tokkyreng
tanthongaimungna kynsangdo
dykymawdo jytsetetokno,
ytykyimungna pipukaw
tanpyrakokno. Uchie phalthangmi
dadadyrangaw nukokno After
having decapitated (the eagle), he
pushed the head out of the way, it
is said. So then he cut its belly
open, it is said. Then he saw his
own elder brothers, it is said.
tanset- v to cut out, to cross out
tanthong- v to decapitate, cut off
the head; to cut off Galaimuna
kynsangdo phylgymaw uan
rykjolaimuna kukuri byk
hotaimuna tokkyrengaw
tanthongokno. After the eagle had
fallen to the ground, he ran and
unsheathed his knife and cut off its
head, it is said.
tandap- v to be on top, to cover
tang clf classifier for koktang
baskets Ytykyimyng tedo
gethengthengdo na khynaimyng
baisigathangmaran rukpekba
tangsa, amakba tang sa
khaiaknowa. So then, now, as for
them, having collected the fish, the
frog and the monkey carried one
basket each, it is said.
tangdap- v to splash on tyi angchi
tangdapwa the water splashed on
me.
tangka n ART money tangka phel
sa one coin tangka kung sa one
banknote tangka rong chykhyw
nine rupees
tangka poisa khjyks/n ART money
tankynyng- v to cut up in many
pieces
tannet n ART measure basket
tanset- v to abandon, to leave
behind
tap n time, turn tap sa once tap ni
twice tap tham three times
tap- v to hit, to beat-up
=tara encl only, exclusively, alone,
myself/yourself/himself etc,
ourselves/yourselves etc. Anga
mamungawan dywanchate. Uan
phywramu garutara dywariwate. I
did not add anything, Im telling
you! I put in only rice powder and
muster leaves. Morot
myngsanoromo. jywtaraanokmo,
wa niok. There once was a
person. She had become a single
mother, there was no more father.
Ytykyimyng Bil phalthangdo
goreawtara watetaimyng
phalthangdo thyigabamyng
degaldyrangaw raakno. So then,
Bill sent the horse away by itself
and collected the weapons of those
who had died.
tarai dtw this year
tarak- v quick, fast. swift Hare! Ie
atakgaba magachake? Tedo
lengla lengla jaltherianoa. Una
ryktheriokno banggale. Tharapna
guduk takwachiba tarakai
jalariano magachake. Huh?!
What kind of a deer is that? Now
it is running as if it is lame again,
it is said. Then the Bengal chases
after it again, it is said. Whenever
he almost catches up with it, the
deer just runs away quickly, it is
said. Anga noksang tarakai raina
nangaidong. I need to go home
quickly. Tarakbo naa! Hurry up!
tarang n PLACE layer Angdo ie
rajami khemna jywthumaidonga,
damana. Ramramchagaba
kyryngwa ido. Hanyng tarang
142
chinina imyng kyryngwado rajami

dama. I am lying here guarding
the royal drum. It has an unusual
sound, this thing. The sound of it
reaches twelve layers inside the
earth.
tarik n TIME date Angdo maja 13
tarikchi chaphang phang 99 ang
nok rygynchi kaiok. A few days
plants behind by house.
tas n ACT cards (the game) Tas
keleni ningdo. We are going to
play cards.
-tat evsp V compulsorily Uchie
jywchangna nangwachie, matsa
gorongtatoknotyi, maikapchi
jywwachi. Then, when he
suddenly had to sleep, he had to
meet that tiger again, which was
sleeing on the hay.
tat- v to drive in (as with a nail in
wood)
tatkhapgaba n stud (used in the
construction of a house)
taw- v to go up, to ascend
-taw evsp V upward, V upstream
Sijyw song muaidonggaba hapchi
bondykaw paiai panaw jap
khagabaaw kawtawna thymokno.
Those who lived in the village of
Siju got their guns, made a
defence wall out of wood and lay
in ambush to shoot upward, it is
said. Hare! Phangnan dakang ang
nukgaba gorialdo chawsa
khengna nanga ido
Chawrataidonga ido. Huh?! In
the past, the crocodiles I saw
always swam upstream. This
crocodile has to be alive. It is
swimming downstream.
=taw ~ =aw encl accusative enclitic
Ranustaw nukama nukancha?
Have you seen Ranus or not? Jemi
sanchi Dibangkongdangaw matsa
kakok. One day, Dibangkongdang
was bitten by a tiger. Panaw jap
khaaimu kawtawna thymokno.
Having made a defence wall out of
wood, they lay in ambush to shoot
upward, it is said. Usangaw
rangpynramsangaw ha hawai
saairongno. Over there, at
Rangpynram they lived of the
land, it is said. Samaw chaaw
itykyi tokano. They trample the
grass like this, with their feet.
taw n ANIM chicken, bird
taw sagyrai n ANIM chick
tawchasi n PLANT species of
liana
tawdimai n BODY tail feathers
tawgurung n nest
tawgylyk n ANIM species of
jungle bird
tawkarang n BODY birds wing
tawkhasi n ANIM capon, castrated
rooster
tawkurung n PLACE the nest of a
chicken, a chicken that is about to
lay an egg
tawmyn n BODY fluff, body
feathers
tawnok n ART chicken cove, coop
tawpachi ~ topachi n ART the
triangular bamboo mat under the
roof of a house between the
khynthyri, byrym and bylbang
tawpachi n ANIM swallow
(Family of Hirundinidae)
tawpak n ANIM bat, butterfly,
moth
tawpakcha n PLANT species of
tree
tawpakkhal n GEO cave in Siju
tawpaksa n ANIM moth
143
tawpaktyi n ANIM caterpillar

tawpal n CORP freckles
tawpalyng n ANIM jungle fowl
tawpuk n ANIM the innards of a
chicken
tawpynchyrep n ANIM species of
small bird with green wings and
tail feathers, a white chest and
brownish read head and beak,
approximately seven centimetres
from head to tail
tawreksyrup n ANIM banana
bird, if translated literally its name
is banana tree sucking bird
tawsagyrai n ANIM chick
tawthup n ART nest, birds nest
tawti ~ tawtyi n ANIM egg
tawa n ART frying pan
tawel n ART towel
=te encl declarative Tainido jabek
thawokte. Naa pangnado thawai
rymcha. Atongtykyi taini jabek
thawoksyi? nookno. Atong
dywwa ama? nookno. Hy?
Niwate baba. Anga mamungawan
dywanchate. The curry is so tasty
today! You dont usually cook
tasty. Why is the curry so
surprisingly tasty today? he said.
What did you put in it, mother?
he said. Huh? Nothing, Im
telling you, son. I did not add
anything, really!
teaw ~ teew dtw now teaw
mangmang just now Bildo teawba
gore dungna sapchanotyi. Bil
does not know how to ride a horse,
it is said, to our surprise. Teewba
song damsachi Thengthon
mynggaba morot myngsa
ganangno. And now, in a villagem
there is a man called Thengthon, it
is said.
teedo ~ tedo expr Ytykyimung,
teedo morot myngsa balokno:
Naa bisang raiaidonga? So
then, now, someone said: Where
are you going? Ytykyimyng tedo
tawreksyrupmyng bengblokmyng
baletaidokno. Ha parawbo
baisiga So then, now, the
banana bird and the toad said:
Call, friend!
teen dtw later today
teew ~ teaw dtw now teew
mangmang just now Teewba song
damsachi Thengthon mynggaba
morot myngsa ganangno. And
now, in a villagem there is a man
called Thengthon, it is said. Bildo
teawba gore dungna
sapchanotyi. Bil does not know
how to ride a horse, it is said, to
our surprise.
teewrawraw ~ teawrawraw expr
Ytykaria, teewrawrawmi gawido.
They do just like that, the girls of
nowadays. Teewrawraw morot
nemchabatsyranggaba. The
people of nowadays are extremely
bad. Angdo sawamigymyn
teewrawrawdo reengna
mankhuchaaidonga. As for me, I
cannot yet go to school because of
my illness. Angdo teewrawrawdo
suffering.
tebyl n ART table
tek- v to tie
telephon n ART telephone
-teng evsp still too V Balbo,
atakna reengwa. Balchachido
tokni, madame. Jora chaiwa.
Sala! mylteng teeuan jora
chaina, roalan jokkhucha! Tell
me, why did you go away? If you
144
dont tell me, Ill beat you, said

the teacher. I saw my lover.
Damn! You are still too small
now to see your lover, you have
not even finished pimary school
yet!
teng ideo plink! klang! plunk! ching
ching! The sound of falling coins.
tengchypchyp- v to shine, to glitter
Ytykyimyng walchi
raiaphyinokno. Raiaphinaisa
beanbebe phalthangmyng nokaw
gethengdo masu dimyng
phirinaimyng ue sona
bichamchymaw nok ryphiokno.
Nok ryphiwamyng kynsangdo
teew getheng nokawan alaga
morotdyrangdo tengchypchypai
nukariokno. So then he came back
at night, it is said. Having come
back, having mixed it with cow
dung, he plastered his house with
the golden flakes, it is said. After
plastering his house now, other
people saw how his house was
shiny, it is said.
-tengteng evsp still much too V
Sala! Naa myltengteng. Ang
isykyn madam kam khaphinok,
nawmyl dongphinok, nangdo
mylaidongkua. Damn! You are
still much too small. I work as
such a big teacher, I am a
marriageable girl, you are still
small.
tenki n ART tank
teraka dtw last year
thagat- v to carry on your back
(used for a child) gawiaw ma
biphaaw thagatai hyna to ask the
parents if you can carry the boy or
the girl Saangchi thagatetbo.
Give me the baby to carry on my
back.
thagythyng n PLANT species of
vegetable
thalet- vgoal to explain Ang
nangna Atong khuchuk saina
thaletni. I will explain to you how
to write the Atong language.
thamakhu n PLANT tobacco
thaba n ANIM bedbug
thaba- v to make someone carry a
child (in a cloth on the body) Odek
nangchi thabani I give you this
baby to carry.
thabai- vtr to break
thabarat- vtr to make someone feel
ashamed
thabisi n ART amulet, antidote
thagal- v to drop Ang chabiaw
bichiba thagalok. I have dropped
my keys somewhere.
=thai ~ =tyi ~ =syi ~ =si encl
uba sagyraiba jumu
thai clf classifier for receptacles
boiom thai sa one jug dipot
thaisa one teapot khap thaisa
one cup Getheng boiom thaini
baiok. He broke two jugs
145
thai n PLANT/FOOD fruit

thaimathaigundai n PLANT
species of bright orange fruit that
grows in creepers high in the
jungle trees in the rainy season.
The round fruits are about seven
centimetres in diameter. The
outside consists of a thick, uneven
leathery rind while inside there are
about eight sweet orange carpels
each containing a smooth stone.
thairokron n CORP swollen
lymph nodes in the arm pits
thaisymphak n PLANT species of
plant
thaithuka ~ thaikhungka n
PLANT species of tree
thaithuka n PLANT species of
plant
thaikhungka ~ thaithuka n
PLANT species of tree
thaikuka n PLANT species of plant
thajyri- v to make trouble
thal- adj1 clear, explicit thalai
hyn- to explain
thali n ART plate (for eating) or its
volume, plateful
-tham evsp barely V
tham num three
thama n ACT divination, thama
chai- to see the future, to practice
divination Kamalchi thama chaia.
At a priests house, divination is
practiced.
thama- vtr to make lost
-thamak evsp V barely, V
excessively
thamat n PLANT green plant that
grows in the jungle and of which
the side of the leaves, the young
leaves, and the fruits cause
irritation when touched
thamalang ~ thamylang n
PLANT sweet potato
thankhoana- v to gut lengthwise,
longitudinally
thang v to fall down on
thang- v to throw away with great
force Matsa kherengwachido
wachungbyryidarangdo
thangaaidonga Bandiba. Bandi
kherengwachido wachu byryi
When the tiger makes a great
effort, he throws Bandi one
bamboo length away. When Bandi
makes a great effort, he throws the
tiger whoooosh! four bamboo
lengths away, it is said, Im telling
you!
=thang encl own Taaa!
Chamaaiparado: Na manwa
nogabana pangkhalai tanangaidonganowa. Tyyyk achudo:
Na manwa nogabana pangaiba tanangaidonganowa.
Ytykyimyng teewdo amakdo
nokthangchina dongangwachido
na nioknowa. Sooo! His
sweathearts household says: You
got fish, and he gives them even
more. Then, his grandfather says:
You got fish! and he gives him a
lot. So then, when the monkey
reaches his own house, he has no
more fish. Magachakmyng
pherumynge baisigathangmarannowa. The fox and the deer are
friends, it is said.
thangchichat- v to drain
thangguduk adv suddenly
thanglang n PLANT species of tree
thangphytphyt v to splash Nalam
gudukwachie teewdo tyi
thangpytpytaimyng jyksaiaiawan
Nawengawmu Kumiribaawma
khamoknowa. When the nalam
146
(species of fish) wiggled, water

splashed on the married couple
Naweng and Kumiri and burned
them, it is said.
thangtaw- v to squirt out
thanthong- adj1 blunt (of pointed
things)
thanyng n BODY brain
thap ideo hit! slap! a hitting sound
thap- v to beat, to beat up, to
destroy Phangnan ning nokaw
thaparonga noai
balokno.Ytykyimyng myngtham
reengokno mongma mathaiaw
thapna. He always destroys out
houses he said, it is said. So then
the three of them went on their
way, it is said, to beat up the
elephant.
thap- adj1 savoury, umami
thaphu n CORP blister, sore
thaphu- v to blister, to be blistered
or to have a sore khuchul thaphua
my tongue has a sore
thapthap adv quickly
thapyra n SUBST ashes
tharai- v to change, to exchange, to
swap Getheng chola gachawana
nygylmyngaw tharaiok. He
changed the bad shirt for a new
one from the market.
tharam n PLANT species of tree
tharam n PLANT species of tree
tharamdawphit n PLANT species
of tree
tharap- v to catch up with, to be on
time Aia! Udo magachakdo
it ran away fast, it is said, the deer.
thari- v to prepare, to arrange, to
repair
thasa- vtr to wake somebody up
Thasabo uaw. Wake him up!
-that evsp V excessively
thatthongthong- v to tear to pieces
thaw- adj1 tasty
thaw ideo bang! pow! the sound of
a gun firing
thawjyw n PLANT type of fruit
thawal n CORP scab
the length of one bamboo stick
themet- v to fold
themyt n PLANT cucumber
thebajaw- ~ thebejaw- v to tickle
Nang angaw thebajawwa, ang
bejawok. You tickled me and I feel
tickled.
thek- v to block off, to lock Tala
thekbo. Lock the lock.
thek- v to insert Waiyr karenchi
thekbo. Put the wire into the
electric socket.
-thel evsp surely V Ichi
rongkhalchi khen
ganangthelnaba ganang. Here in
the spaces under the stones there
are river crabs for sure.
thel- v to tie
them ideo, pow! bang! the sound of
a gunshot Myngsagado them!
kawokno. The first one shot, pow!
it is said.
them- v to fold up (clothes,
blankets etc.)
themtaw- v to roll up
theng clf classifier for pieces of
meat
thep clf classifier for heaps and
small packets
147
thep gaw ideo stamp, stamp! the

sound of many animals
stampeding through the forest
thep thup ideo clog clog. tap tap
tap.
-theri ~ -thiri evsp V again
Myngsa them! kawoknotyi.
khianchano. Aro myngsa
kawtheriokno. Them! One of them,
pow! took a shot. And another one
shot again. Pow! Ytykyimudo uan,
getheng, sagaba: Angdo
nemkhalancha nochido, aro
kamalsang thama chaithiria. So
then, as for him, if he says: I am
not better, they will practice
divination again at the place of
another priest. Biba raiatherini?
When will you come again?
thet- v to pull out, to pull Ang
phakwalmyn theta. I pull out the
hair in my armpit.
thetchot- v to tear or break by
pulling Ning kara thetchotok. We
broke our rope.
thik ~ kuythik n ANIM lice (on
dogs)
thik adv exactly, well cooked, well
done Kawbutungchi thik
thokyrengaw manokno. When he
shot [the giant eagle] he got it
exactly in the neck. Jaryt sawai,
mantaw sawai, maichengmung
nalammung thiksa berengai saa.
We roast the chilli pepper, we
roast the brinjal and cook it until it
is well done with maicheng (a
species of leafy green) and nalam
(a species of fish) in a bamboo
tube and eat it.
thik dong- ~ dong- v to be correct
Morot chanchichypai thik
dongokodo, uchian rajaan uaw
ajot nosawnaka. Suppose someone
gets it right, then the king will tell
him ajot.
thik kha- v to fix a date and time
Takrukna san somai thik
khawachym. They supposedly
fixed a time and a day to fight.
thikthak adv exactly, precise,
precisely Kynsange nygyltyi ni
reengwachi thikthak jahas
kanachina dongangok. Later,
when she had been going for two
weeks, she arrived exactly at the
ship and the harbour. Thikthak
phangnado chykhyw bajichi
saaidonga. He always eats
exactly at nine oclock. Thikthak
kawoknotyi ue sagyraie.
Kawbutungchi thik thokyrengaw
manokno. That child shot very
precisely. When he shot [the giant
eagle] he got it exactly in the neck.
thimimi- vtr to make someone
smile
thimini- vtr to make someone smile
thin- v to climb a rope that is either
vertically or horizontally hung.
khara thin- to climb a rope
thing thing thing ideo pling, pling,
pling! klang, klang, klang! the
sound of something falling made
of metal
thintaw- v to climb up
-thiri ~ -theri evsp V again
Ytykyimudo uan, getheng,
sagaba: Angdo nemkhalancha
nochido, aro kamalsang thama
chaithiria. So then, as for him, if
he says: I am not better, they
will practice divination again at
the place of another priest.
Myngsa them! kawoknotyi.
khianchano. Aro myngsa
kawtheriokno. Them! One of them,
pow! took a shot. And another one
shot again. Pow! Biba
148
raiatherini? When will you come

again?
thiri n ART arrow (of bow and
arrow)
thiri n ART bow (of bow and
arrow)
thirikun n ART arrow (of bow and
arrow)
thiriphong n ART part of an
elephant trap
-thirithiri evsp V again and again,
V once again Sala! ue sagyrai
teewba raiathiriok noaimuna,
gyniga phawjongga. Uawbathiri
gadakchichiaimuna
uba sagyraiba jumu
khathirithirioknotyi.
Ruchuthirithiriaimu raiarongno.
Damn! That child is coming back
again, he said, the second elder
brother. He again cut it into pieces
and disposed of it, it is said. But
the child reassembled once again,
it is said, to our surprise.
tho n FOOD mustard oil
tho- v to compare
thoma n PERS group
thotheng n SUPER forest creature
that looks like a person with his
feet pointing backwards, so that it
looks like you are following his
footsteps in the direction he is
going, while in fact he was
walking the other way.
thogi- v to betray, to cheat (on), to
deceive Gawi angaw thogiok. The
girl has betrayed me/cheated on
me.
thojekjek- v to shake a fixed object
Ie panaw thojekjekchido thai
galkhalni. If you shake this tree,
fruit will fall down.
-thok evsp V together, everybody
V, all of them V. Mai
sathokokma? Did you all eat rice
together? Golpho balna pangcha
natymthokbo. I want to tell a story,
listen up everybody.
thokbyrang adj2 multi-coloured,
many coloured
thokbyrym adj2 multi-coloured,
many coloured
thokthok adv precisely
thol n COPR wrinkles
thol- v to lie, to tell lies Anga
Ketketa Bura nogaawan
tyngkhucha noaimyng Ketketa
Burae phalthangawan pheruna
tholokno. I dont know this so
called Ketketa Bura yet, lied
Ketketa Bura about himself to the
fox, it is said.
tholam n PERS liar
thom clf classifier for things in
heaps or piles jyw thomsa a pile
of flattened bamboo used to make
mats
thom- v to come together Song
harynaw sowalni. The whole
village comes together and they
will divide the haba plot by plot.
thom- v to make a heap Rong
thomaidonga. Hes making a
heap of stones.
thong clf classifier for cylindrical
objects betyri thongbyryi four
batteries
-thong ~ -thong evsp V in half
(crosswise), V off Wa
baithongok. The bamboo is
broken crosswise. Galaimuna
kynsangdo phylgymaw uan
rykjolaimuna kukuri byk
hotaimuna tokkyrengaw
tanthongokno. After it had fallen,
149
he quickly chased the eagle, drew

his knife and cut off its neck.
thong n SHAPE half which is the
result of a cross section or a cut
across the width or a crosscut
thongmatchang n ANIM snake
with many colours like the
rainbow, when you see this snake,
you know that someone in your
family will die
thongthong adv straight
thop ideo thok! thunk! a hitting
sound:
thop- v to gang up on Watnabai
iaw alagaaw! noaimyng
rykathokaidongano, Bandiaw
thopna. Dont let this stranger
go! they said and they were
chasing him, they wanted to gang
up on Bandi.
thorok- v to jump (down from / out
of / into) Alsia raja phepmyng
thorokokno. The lazy king jumped
out of the banyan tree, it is said.
thorokangokno. So then, having
put the biscuits by the side of the
water, the deer splash! jumped into
the water, it is said.
thorom n ACT religion Ning
We pagans, we the Atong, in the
thot thyngthot adv to the last drop
Thot thyngthot takwachina dabat
sykromaimyng
khanetsigaaidongno. He (Bandi)
grasped her (Sore) and poured the
liquor into her mouth to the last
drop.
thot- v to hit, to bump into
something or against something
Cha ronchi thotwa. I hit my foot
on a stone.
thothak n QUANT/MSRE a drop,
classifier for drops myktyi thothak
ni two tears/two teardrops
mykrensam thothak ni two drops
of eye medicine.
thotphyret- v to smash by hitting
against or on something
thu- v to put in your mouth
thuk- v to enclose with a fence nol
thuka to fence
thuk- v to wicker a bamboo mat
Damdyl thukaimu nok hama.
Having made the bamboo mats,
they build the house.
-thum evsp V on behalf of someone
else, instead of someone else
Atakna kyrewa,
morotmadyrangna? Hai ang
ganang. Angan raja. Angan
balthumni nooknoro pherue.
Why are you afraid for these
people? Come on! I am here. I am
the king. I will speak on your
behalf, said the fox, it is said. Ue
alsia rajae ytytkyimyng jykba
myngni khymanoro. Ytykyimyng
sanaba jyk paithumna nangano,
jywnaba jyk paina nangano. That
lazy king had married two wives,
it is said. So, to eat, his wives had
to carry him, it is said, and to
sleep, his wives had to carry him
too, it is said.
thumu- vtr to sit someone down
(used for children)
thunuk- v to show
thup ideo thunk! slap! a beating
sound
thup n PLACE nest Tawreksyrup
mangsa gethengmyng thup
150
phangnan mongma phaiai

sarongwana, mongma mathaiaw
thokna reengaidongano. Because
the nest of a banana bird always
gets broken and eaten by an
elephant, it is on its way to beat
the bachelor elephant up, it is said.
thup thup ideo pitapat! The sound
of footsteps
thup- v to nest, to be thick (of fog
or mist) Teedo ue mongmaai
rekchi thupai thupai mugabaaw
phangnan phaiai phaai
saronga. Now this elephant
always breaks and eats the place in
which I nest in the banana tree.
Guri thupa. The fog is thick.
thurung n ANIM species of flying
insect that comes out after the first
rain and fills the air in big swarms
like a mist. They come out at the
same time as the species of ant
called hangkyn
thut ~ thun clf classifier for big
spherical things, stones, bricks,
rocks, heads, hills, mountains and
bars of soap rong thuttham three
rocks habyri thutsene seven hills,
mountains sabun thutsa one bar of
soap, dykym thutsa one head
thyyk- v to have the hiccups
thyi- v to die
thyi n CORP blood
thyikhop n ART dried fruit in
which water is stored for
consumption
thyiwami n ACT death
thyk n ART pan for cooking rice
thyk- v to be fixed sideways
-thyl evsp V and avoid, V ahead
thyl postp up to, until (spatial) Ie
chamasangmi wai khurutchido ue
hyisangmiaw Banggladesmi thyl
Kongosmi jaria
hagyrsakgumukawan myngani.
When he summons the
downstream spirit, that [priest]
will call upon the influence of all
those far away [places] up till
Bangladesh [and] the area of
Kongos, all of them.
thyl- v to go very far
Gathyngaimuna thylangok.
Because [I] kicked [it], [it] went
very far.
thylampak ~ thylapak n BODY
tongue thylamphak sul- to stick
out your tongue
-thylong evsp V nicely Uaw
waphekgumuk, wa pangumuk
tharithylongaimusa, sansa
dyngthangmancha thariaisa,
kamalna rykaisa, wai khuruta,
ning achu ambimi ningmi
pisachido. Having prepared those
small bamboo stalks, having
nicely prepared all the bamboo
and wood, one special day you
need to prepare that, search for a
priest and perform the incantation,
in the time of our ancestors, in our
childhood.
thym- v to lay in ambush
thym- v to take revenge
thymbylong adj2 to have a hole in
it, damaged (of roads, bridges and
wooden planks)
thymyn v to ripen Panchung
thymytetbo. Keep the jackfruit so
that it can ripen.
thymyn- vtr to ripen
thymyt- v to put out (fire), to switch
off, to extinguish
-thyng evsp V so much Khuthipna
harataimyng kawakai
mugabamyng
manamthynggabana sotmai
dumaai pangphinokno. Because
151
he was so lazy that he did not want

to close his mouth, and because he
sat there with his mouth open,
which stank so much, flies
swarmed into it, it is said.
thyng- v to kick
thyngel- v to tilt
thyngpyret- v to kick
-thyngthyng evsp V so much, V
continuously, V all the time
Aiaw! Thajyrithyngthyng!
nookno. Ytykyimu amake
kapetaimu: Atong nanga
naa?! Oww! You make trouble
all the time! he said. So then, the
mokey got angry and said: What
do you need?!
thyp- v to throw (sidearm) Wakaw
paiaimungna amake welan
welang pankhambaichi
dungangaimungna sasigaaknotyi
dyngdang. Dyngdang sasigaakno.
Sala! Naa angna kholaw
hynatemo. nookno khusume.
Amake: Tambone hynni
nangnaba noaimuna Ha
kerengaw sabo! noai
thypratetokno. Having carried the
pig, the monkey quickly climbed
to the top of a tree and ate alone.
Damn you! You can at least give
me the skin! said the turtle.
Wait, OK! Ill give you something
too, the monkey said and then:
Take this, eat the bones! he said
and threw them down. Uchie
getheng nokhapchina tangkaaw
thypai thypai khiaidongano,
Rong sa, rong ni, rong tham
noaimyng. Then he goes home and
is counting the money throwing it
on the ground saying: One rupee,
two rupees, three rupees. Dada,
anga nang jongsaba nookono.
Sala burbok sagyrai naa
ningaw hala khagabaai
noaimungna bunduk
raasetetaimungna uaw
Gadakchichiaimuna
singsingkholongsang thypsetyi
tanangokno. Brothers, brothers, I
am your younger brother! he said,
it is said. Damn you stupid child!
You have woken us up! they said
and, having thrown away their
guns, they cut the child up in
pieces, it is said. Having cut him
into pieces, they threw him in a
deep hole in the ground, it is said.
thyrgyryw v to shake something
large and unmovable
thyw- adj1 deep
thywkhong adj2 globular,
protruding, bulging
Tibet n PLACE Tibet
tibi n ART television
ticher ~ tichyr n PERS teacher
tiiititi interj interjection to call a
chicken
tika n ART payment
tiktik- v to make last Biskynan jachi
saaidonga? Tangkaawba tiktika.
How much do they eat every
month? They make their money
last. As for us, we dont make it
last. We are gluttons and
drunkards. The rich eat and drink
too much.
tin n ART corrugated iron sheet
used to make roofs tin kap sa one
sheet of corrugated iron
tintyrin n PLANT tamarind
tiup n ART tube
=to ~ =ta encl emphatic imperative
Raiaboto! Come here!
152
Ytykyimyng sansachi umyng

gawigaba Bilaw kam khakhalna
hitoknowa. Naa
chaiphabota! nookno. So then,
one day, his wife commanded Bil
to work more. Try to do some
more work like other people! she
said.
toilet ~ toilyt n PLACE toilet
tok- v to beat, to beat up, to play an
instrument Tawreksyrup mangsa
gethengmyng thup phangnan
mongma mathaiaw tokna
reengaidongano. Because the nest
of a banana bird always gets
broken and eaten by an elephant, it
is on its way to beat the bachelor
elephant up, it is said.
tokbaw n CORP goitre ~ goiter
tokdepdep- v to crush, to grind
Sambanggyri akaiokno,
tokdepdepaimu phaatokno. He
plucked sambanggyri, crushed it
and put it on the wound, it is said.
tokdyl n BODY vocal cords
tokgepgep- v to beat to a pulp
tokhynyng- v to smash into pieces
tokkhyphu ~ tokyphu ~ tokybu n
BODY gullet, oesophagus, throat
tokkyreng n BODY neck
tokphyrong- v to take a powdered
substance in the palm of one hand
and softly tap on it with the other
hand
tokpyret- v to crush by hitting
tokset- v to cough, to have a cold
tokset- v to pull loose
tokta n PLANT type of wood
toktai- v to hang oneself
tokthining ~ tokthynyng n BODY
neck
tokthong- v to smash in half
tokthynyng ~ tokthining n BODY
neck
toktokylek n PLANT species of
flower
tong- v to fuck
tota n ART plank tota kap sa one
plank tota khawsa one plank
totyp adj2 bent Bandi
muetwachian dakhamba hachina
chaksi ni dongna guduk totyp
totyp takaidonganote. When Bandi
sits on the dakham it bent almost
completely to but two fingers from
the ground, it is said.
tu- ~ ty- v to feed (by putting food
or drink into the mouth Sagyraina
mai tuwa. I fed the child rice.
Bylsi senemi chywaw pityi
jyngjang phinggabaaw botol
chaksijywsykyngabaaw
kanetaidongano. Dada choisa
kawakbone noaimyng
hynetaidongano. Atong churu
ryngnaka? noaimu Botolgumuk
tyetsyrangbo. They are pouring
seven year old wine from a fully
filled bottle as small as a thumb, it
is said. Elder brother, open your
mouth a little they said and then
What little will I drink? he said
Feed me the whole bottle.
tuk- v overgrown, dense (of
vegetation) Ram tuka. The road is
overgrown. Palyng tuka. The
jungle is dense.
tum clf classifier for places and
packets Hap tumbyisyk? How
many places?
tun- ~ tyn- v to lead, to guide to
lead, to guide Naa ang masu
mang rajasaaw tynangsegabone.
You lead my hundred cows away,
OK?
153
tung clf classifier for objects like

bridges dolong tungni two bridges
tung- adj1 hot, warm
tungbul- v to have a warm body
(not of fever)
tungkyryi ~ tyngkyryi n TIME hot
season
tupi n ART cap, heat
ty- ~ tu- v see tutyi n SUBST/CORP water, (fruit)
juice, sweat
=tyi ~ =thai ~ =syi ~ =si encl
uba sagyraiba jumu
tyi n ANIM egg
tyi- v to lay an egg
tyibal n GEO wave
tyibasal n GEO whirlpool
tyibek n ART traditional bottle
used to drink water out of and
made of a dried vegetable also
called tyibek
tyichabakram n GEO waterfall,
cascade
tyichang n PLACE island
tyichaw- ~ tyichaw v to drown Ie
morot tyi hungna sapchaaimu
tyichawwa. Because this person
did not know how to swim, he
drowned.
tyigat n PLACE place in a river or
at the end of a water pipe where
the people get drinking water, take
a bath and wash their clothes and
dishes.
tyigum n ART water container
made of metal and shaped like a
big vase used to store water in the
kitchen. Its place in the house is in
the tyinok
Tyihanggal n PLACE Stream on
the way to Balphakram. When the
stream is also called Chidymak or
Tyitykmak.
tyi hung- vpan to swim Naa tyi
hungna sapama? Do you know
how to swim?
tyikaran adj2 thirsty
tyikhal n GEO river thyikhal chol
ni two rivers
tyikhyrep- v to be wrinkled
because of being in the water for a
long time ang chaksi tyikhyrepok
my fingers are wrinkled because
they were in the water for a long
time chak tyikhyrepok dry leaves
tyimong n GEO main river
tyimuk n GEO source, spring (of a
stream)
tyinala n PLANT algae
tyinok n ART place in the kitchen
where the water pots (tyigum) and
other utensils like plates, cups and
glasses are stored.
154
tyiphek n GEO tributary river, the

smaller one of two rivers that flow
together
tyiribok n PLANT species of
creeper poisonous to cows
tyis ~ tys ~ yis ~ hyits ~ hys ~ hyis
indignation.
tyisam n PLACE river bank, edge
of the water Tyi gagaba wari
thywgaba tyisamchi hap
sylgabachi myngni
baisigathangmaran chang
tyrywchengnaka? noaidongano.
By the side of a deep wari with
good water on a beautiful spot the
two friends were arguing about
who would take a bath first, it is
said.
tyisang n CORP piss, urine tyisang
raikhuna I need to piss
tyisi- v to be wet Magachakmi
myndo tyisiwachian miniksuru
takjolarianoro. When the deers
fur is wet, it just quickly gets flathaired, it is said.
tyisuk n CORP pneumonia tyisuk
rawa to have a pneumonia
tyisurung n GEO rainwater that
streams over the ground
tyithai n ART water scoop made of
a hollow, dried gourd.
Tyitykmak n PLACE Stream on
the way to Balphakram. When the
stream is also called Tyihanggal or
Chidymak.
tykha n GEO white clay not useful
to make pots
tykhal n PERS person who goes
around eating in lots of other
people houses
tyksyl n ART pan for cooking rice
=tykyi ~ takai encl
perlative/similfactive Phulistykyi
nukramphinokno bunduk paigana.
They inadvertently looked like the
police because they were carrying
guns. Nanang Bagmaratykyi
reengni. We will go via/through
Baghmara.
tykyw n ART water pot
tym clf classifier for fields haba
tymni two dry rice and vegetable
fields on the slope of a mountain
-tym sfx personal pronoun plural
suffix used to form the second
person plural exclusive personal
pronoun from the second person
singular and the third person plural
from the distal demonstrative:
nangtym you (plural exclusive)
utym they
tyn- ~ tun- v to lead, to guide Naa
ang masu mang rajasaaw
tynangsegabone. You lead my
hundred cows away, OK?
-tyn evsp lead/bring to V, be the
leader of the action, Keletynbo!
Play with the others as the leader.
tyng clf classifier for long thin
objects like ropes, chains, hairs
etc. kara tyngsa one rope
tyng- v to know (a fact or person),
to understand, to recognise
Ketketa Bura? Anga Ketketa
Bura nogaawan tyngkhucha
noaimyng Ketketa Burae
phalthangawan pheruna
tholokno. Ketketa Bura? I dont
know this so called Ketketa Bura
yet, lied Ketketa Bura about
himself to the fox, it is said. Ang ie
155
khata dakangdo tyngchachym,

teewdo nemen tyngok. I did not
know this word before but now I
know it well. Nang baletgaba
morote atongtykyi angawe
tyngsawnaka? How will the
person you talk about certainly
recognise me?
tyngcheng- v to know first, to
discover
tyngen adv very Ue raja kam
khanaba tyngen haratachym. That
king was supposedly very
reluctant to do work.
tyngetwami ~ tyngetwamyng n
ART announcement, notice
tyngkarang adv in one go
tyngkyryi ~ tungkyryi n TIME hot
season
-tyngtang evsp V all over the place
tyngtet- v to hang someone
Tyngtet khaai tan! Hang him
up!/Kill him by hanging him!
tyngwami n ACT knowledge,
understanding
typ- v to throw down Sala burbok
sagyrai naa ningaw
halakhagabaai noaimungna
bunduk raasetetaimungna uaw
Gadakchichiaimuna
singsingkholongsang typsetyi
tanangokno, typsetyi tanangokno.
Damn you stupid child who
disturbed us! they said and they
took out their guns and cut the
child into pieces, it is said. Having
cut him up, they threw him into a
deep hole in the ground and left
him there, it is said.
tyret- v to bathe someone else
tyru-~ tyiru- ~ tyiryw- v to bathe,
to take a bath, to wash oneself
tys ~ tyis ~ yis ~ hyits ~ hys ~ hyis
indignation. Tys sala! Damn!
tyt- v to pour Ue tyigummi tyi tytbo
depotchi. Pour water from that
tyigum into the teapot.
U
uchingrawri ~ batro n ANIM
species of brown leech that lives in
the soil and mud
uchi disccon/dem then, there
uchiba disccon but then Una
myngsagaba sabanthai
sabanthai myngsagaba
bychymokno, uchiba
patangphaariok,
dangangphaariokno. Then one
son pulled the other out [from the
water], it is said, but then they just
crossed and they all just drowned,
it is said.
uching ~ uching ~ ukching n
ANIM leech
ue ~ u- dem that, there, distal
demonstrative
ufff ~ uph ideo oof! a puffing
sound
umi ~ umido ~ umisa ~ umyng ~
umung ~ umyngdo ~ umyngsa
disccon then Naa wai
chunggabaaw nukoknoai
chanchibo, masu ranaka, purun
ranaka, taw rana nangni, wak
rana nangni, unado. Umi chywba
symna nangni, ue kamalna.
Suppose you see a big spirit.
Youll get a cow youll get a goat,
youll need to get a chicken, youll
need to get a pig, for him. Then
youll also need to brew some
liquor for that priest. Masu
156
nanga, wak nanga, taw nanga,

chyw nanga waikhurutna. Umido
uaw kamal sandini. You need a
cow, you need a pig, you need a
chicken, you need liquor to
perform an incantation. Then you
will search for that priest.
Umungsa ha hawaimungsa
wacham tana. First we clear the
jungle. Then, having cleared the
jungle, we cut the old rice stalks.
umigymynchi ~ umynggymynchi
disscon for that reason, therefore,
because of that
umyng ~ umung~ umyngdo ~
umyngsa ~ umi ~ umido ~ umisa
disccon then Phasgaba
the old rice stalks. Naa wai
chunggabaaw nukoknoai
chanchibo, masu ranaka, purun
ranaka, taw rana nangni, wak
rana nangni, unado. Umi chywba
symna nangni, ue kamalna.
Suppose you see a big spirit.
Youll get a cow youll get a goat,
youll need to get a chicken, youll
need to get a pig, for him. Then
youll also need to brew some
liquor for that priest. Masu nanga,
wak nanga, taw nanga, chyw
nanga waikhurutna. Umido uaw
kamal sandini. You need a cow,
you need a pig, you need a
chicken, you need liquor to
perform an incantation. Then you
will search for that priest.
una disccon therefore, then Jetakai
patangchiba rung
bytrongrengangariano,
sangkhynian. Unasa rung chawna
dakangan ytykyi rung dykymaw
gatyngaimuna kha Dawa!, kha
Dawa! noaimusa rung chawaimu
patronganoro. Whatever you do
whenever you cross, the boat will
spin. That is the water dragon.
Therefore, before you cross by
boat, because you stamp on the
head of the boat saying Kha
Dawa! Kha Dawa! and then
having gone by boat, you usually
cross, it is said. Only then does the
water dragon not get you, it is
said.
uph ~ ufff ideo oof! a puffing
sound
utyk udong expr let it be
utym ppron they, third person
plural personal pronoun
W
wa n BODY tooth, tusk (of
elephant) wa khawni two teeth,
two tusks
wa- vs1 to rain Rang waaidok. Its
raining. Literally: Rain is raining.
This verb can only take the noun
rang as its argument.
=wa encl factitive Angmyng bimung
Nykseng myngwa. My name is
Nykseng. Bisang reengwa?
Where have you been? Uchian
rajado kusi dongaimyng: Naa
atongaw nangni? nookno. Uchie
Bildo: Angna mamyngawan
nangchawa. Then the king was
happy. Do you need anything?
he asked? Then Bil said: I dont
need anything. Nangmi tangka
angna hynbo! yhy
hynchawa! Give me your
money! No, I wont give it!
Ooo! Mykgythaldo dongcha
jywmangsama, ma nang bimang
sylwaai.(Wilseng S Marak) Ooo! Is it
157
real or is it a dream, but your body

is really beautiful! Sagyraiwana
kymchawa. Because she is a child,
I will not marry her. Chalmanwa
machotwamungsa mai kaichenga.
Only after the sowing is finished,
rice is planted. Ningba ytykyi
takwa ganima? Will it be good if
we do it like this? Mai sawa
jamkhucha. I have not finished
eating rice yet. Morot dykymchi
tokwa gacha. Hitting a person on
the head is not good. Uchian anga
nangaw nukjyryngwachian
nangna khagalwa dangok.
Then, when I saw you every day, I
started loving you. Mungma
angaw gaphynekniwana kyryia.
Im afraid that an elephant will
stamp me to death. Thogidugagabaaw rachie rachido
thyiwamyng gaakanowa. If you
believe people who lie to much,
you will die. Ian haba
hawwamung itihas machotaido
bytwagumuk khairataisa machota.
Finishing this story about the
cultivation of the rice field, they
finish by carrying the whole
harvest down. Umigymynchi anga
nangaw khymana daiaido
asetwaan nemkhalnaka. Therefore
it will certainly be much better to
divorce you than to be married to
you. Turasang reengwachi angna
topi rabone. When you go to
Tura, buy me a hat. Ketketa
Burana jywparae mai hynaimyng
melwachi juta longpen muja tupi
dykypaimyng bondyk pansa
hynaimyng watetokno. His mother
gave Ketketa Bura rice, and when
he was fat, after she dressed him in
shoes, long trousers, socks and a
hat, having given him a gun, she
sent him away, it is said.
Ytykyimuna pankhambaichi
pywaimuna ytykyi sakhuchano
sawaawdo. So then, having flown
up in the treetop like this, he had
not yet eaten any food, it is said.
wa ~ wagaba n KIN father
wa n PLANT bamboo wa dotsa
one culm of bamboo wakhawsa
one long half of a bamboo morot
wa sagaba a strong and tough
person
wabyrek n ART horizontal beam
under the length of the roof
underneath the wakhaw; together
they form part of the structure of
the roof of a house that keeps
whatever covers the roof in its
place
wacham n PLANT stubble, old
rice stalk which is left over after
harvesting the rice
wachan n PLANT species of
fungus that glows in the dark
wachu ~ wachun n MSRE
wachurek n ABSTR capacity
wachyrik- vgoal to be startled
Gari horn khawanasa
wachyrikok, gethenge. Because
the car blew its horn he was
startled.
wada n PLANT species of bamboo
of which each culm comes out of
the ground individually instead of
in a bush
wadaweng n GEO star sign of
three stars in a straight line
wadokolong n ART water pipe
made of bamboo
wagat n ART bamboo shoulder
yoke
wagatram n BODY shoulder,
literally: the place where you put
the bamboo shoulder yoke
158
wagydok n ART water pipe made

of bamboo
wagylok n ART a cut-off piece of
bamboo
wahel- v to be stuck in your teeth
wajong n PLANT species of
bamboo
wajongmagal n PLANT species of
bamboo
wakai n PLANT species of big
bamboo
wakhal n ANIM grasshopper-like
insect
wakhaw n ART purlin, horizontal
beam on the outside over the
length of the roof, that has the
wabyrek as its inside counterpart;
together they form part off the
structure of the roof that keeps
whatever covers the roof in its
place (other speakers call a purlin
a khynthyri)
wakhaw n ART one long half of a
bamboo split lengthwise wakhaw
sa one long half of a bamboo
wakhelsep- v to be stuck in your
teeth
wakholchik- v to show your teeth
wakhu ~ kudal ~ khudal n ART
chopper (tool used in agriculture)
wakhyntha n PLANT species of
bamboo
walai n PLANT species of bamboo
that grows in the jungle, is very
long and thin and can be more
than one hundred joints long
walung n ART place where stuff is
burnt
wamaran n KIN a father and his
child (son or daughter)
wamychym n ANIM fire fly
waphek n PLANT bamboo,
branch, small bit of bamboo
waphuk n ART white half of a
strip of bamboo used to make rope
wapuk n PLANT the inside of a
bamboo tube
warap n ART bamboo strip that
runs underneath the bamboo floor
of a house and has engsyri as its
counterpart on top of the floor to
keep the bamboo strips that make
up the floor in place
wari ~ waryi n PERS child who
lost his father
warung n PLANT young bamboo
wasung n ART bamboo tube used
as container and used to cook
bering in wasung sungni two
bamboo tubes
wasyl n ART/PLANT green half of
a strip of bamboo used to make
rope, the outside of a bamboo tube
watana n ART part of an elephant
trap
wathai n PLANT smaller type of
wathyrai
wathaibok n PLANT species of
bamboo that is white from the
ground a little up
wathok n PLANT hollow bamboo
stick Myngsene bytwa
motchagabaaw manchagabaaw
gudukchagabaaw chaiaimu,
Bandiba kawraw bytjasaaimyng
phalthang phagongmathangchi
phaiai raiaaidonganote, Bandiba.
Bandi paianggabaaw mykren
wathok songphinai
Gyrynggyrang chaisymaidongano.
Having watched the seven unable
men and the pillar that does not
move, Bandi easily pulled the
pillar out and is carrying it on his
shoulder, it is said, Im telling
you! Gyrynggyrang is watching
the carrying Bandi with eyes
159
raised on bamboo sticks (i.e.

attentively), it is said.
wathyrai n PLANT species of
bamboo that grows one by one,
not in a bush
watyng n ART bamboo strip used
to make baskets, and other woven
utensils as well as rope. Nangtym
angaw tyichi typratwaba nemariok
aro koksep chungkhuna
nangachym. Watyng tyngphekna
masu mangphek hynwa, gumukgamak angna masu mang rajasa
hynetwa angnado. You threw me
into the water and that was good,
and I should have had a bigger
koksep. For every bamboo strip
they gave me a cow and in all they
gave me one hundred cows.
wach n ART watch
wachyw n BODY incisors (the four
front teeth used for biting)
wadi ~ wakhi n CORP plaque
wagydok n ART bamboo water
pipe
wagyleng n PERS person who is
missing one or more teeth
wai n PERS spirit wai khurut- to
perform an incantation, so
summon a spirit
wai- v to plough Bydyi myngsa
haphal khamaidongano,
masusang haphal waiaidongano.
An old man is working in the field,
it is said. He is ploughing the field
with a cow, it is said.
wai- v to return, to go/come back
Rangsando saniarokno, sikharba
khachypanchakno, ytykthyngai
somai jamchypaimuna jyksang
sasang waiangokno. The sun was
setting. The hunting had failed and
having done all this, having
wasted time, he went back to his
family, it is said.
wai- v to scoop (of liquid) Angna
chyw gylaschi waibo. Scoop some
liquor into the glass for me.
Tyikhalmi tyi waiaimu getheng
ryngok. He scooped out some
water from the river and drank it.
waicheng n ART longest type of
knife
waiseng n ART very big knife
traditionally used to kill tigers and
men waiseng mangsa one
waiseng
wai khurut- vpan to perform an
incantation Ie chamasangmi wai
khurutchido ue hyisangmiaw
Banggladesmi thyl Kongosmi
jaria hagyrsakgumukawan
myngani. When you perform an
incantation for the Downstream
Spirit, you call upon the whole
area up to Bangladesh way over
there, upon the influence of
Kongos, you call upon the whole
area, everything.
waiphin n ACT return Waisa
waiphin lak sa nanga. To go and
come back you need one hundred
thousand rupees.
waiphin- v to go back, to return
Nangmi sabanthai waiphinaakte.
Your son has returned.
waisa n ACT the going (to
somewhere) Waisa waiphin lak sa
nanga. To go and come back you
need one hundred thousand
rupees.
waiset- v to drain a little bit of
water, to scoop out water
Chamussang waisetbo. Scoop it
out with a spoon.
waiyr n ART wire
wak n ANIM pig, pork
160
wakam n BODY molar (tooth)

wakeng n ART axe
wakhi ~ wadi n CORP plaque
wakhol ~ wakholong n PERS
person who is missing one or more
teeth
waknok n ANIM domestic pig
waknol n ART pigsty
wakpalyng n ANIM wild pig
wakpuk n ANIM the innards of a
pig
wal tw night Walchi nengwana
palyngchi jywbutungchie
karydyldo Ambi Chakkhen
phylwa. At night, while he was
sleeping in the jungle because he
was tired, the hanging root
changed into Ambi Chakkhen.
wal- vs1 to be night Walni. It will
be night. San walok. It has become
night. (Literally: The day has
become night.)
wal n GEO fire, torch Nokhapalchi
wal chakbo. Light a fire outside
the house. Nanang walchi wal
netaimu khen rawna reengni. We
will light a torch and go catch
river crabs at night.
walbek n FOOD burnt curry Mai
sanaan jabek walbek
thawchawanaan. As far as eating
rice is concerned, the curry was
burnt, it was not tasty.
walbyt n ART match (to make
fire)
walcham n ART bamboo torch
waldi n SUBST ambers, glowing
pieces of burnt wood
walkhu n SUBST smoke
walkhu- v to produce smoke
walkungki n SUBST black ashes
walmak n PLACE future rice field
where the jungle has just been
burnt
walsam n PLACE fireside
walthum n fire that is burned
during the winter outside the
house to keep warm
wala- v to arrive at night, to be late
so that it is already night Ma
baba, atykyimu walawa? nookno
amakaw, amakmi sadyrange.
Niwa. Ue nang awangpara
nokchi dangphakawa naa"
noatakokno. But daddy, why are
you so late? It is already night,
the monkeys children said.
Dont worry. I visited your
uncle he said, it is said.
walchak- v to kindle the fire with
your breath by blowing
walmykrak- v to hold a vigil or
watch over the body of a dead
person.
walsymsym n GEO twilight, dusk
Walsymsym takok. Its dusk.
wang n KIN (1) uncle: fathers
younger brother (2)stepfather
wang- v to bite a bit out of
something
wang- v to turn, to wind
wanggala n ACT biggest Garo
festival
wangmaran n KIN my wang and
his elder brothers child
warasak- v to defend, to shield, to
protect
warem n SUBST rust
wari n PLACE deep place in the
river where you can swim or take
a bath Tyi gagaba wari
thywgaba tyisamchi hap
sylgabachi myngni
baisigathangmaran chang
161
tyrywchengnaka noaidongano.
At the waterside of a place in the
river where there was nice and
deep water, in a beautiful place,
the two friends are arguing about
who will take a bath first, it is said.
waribul- v to fish at the festival of
waribula
waribula n ACT the Siju fishing
festival in the Symsang river at
Dabatwari
warung n PLANT young or
immature bamboo
wasam n PLANT species of plant
wat- v to send away, to banish, to
get rid of, to switch on an
electrical apparatus like a radio,
TV, computer etc., to let go, to
squirt Gethengmi nokaw getheng
watok, ytykyimu dynthang nokchi
muarok. His family sent him
away, so now he is staying in
another house. Git watbo. Play
some music. (on the
radio/tape/CD/etc.) Ram watbo.
Go out of the way. Sunyngchi
rityi watchawa. I will not cum
inside her vagina. Ytykyi
pywtynangaimyng kynsangdo
dongna guduk takwachian
gethengtheng khusi
dongthamakaimyng gore dimaichi
phalthang chak diriga
sangwalaimyng khusi
dongaimyng watokno. Ytykyimyng
galai thyiokno. So then, having
flown away, later, when they
almost arrived, because they were
so very happy, they forgot to hold
on to the horses tail with their
own hands, and because they were
so happy, they let go, it is said. So
then they fell down and died, it is
said.
wat- v to weave things from reed or
bamboo, to make a mat or basket
from bamboo or reed Getheng
koksep watna mana. He can
weave a bamboo cage.
watbyrak- v to be shameless
Getheng tawel watbyrakai kana
He was wearing his towel
shamelessly (i.e. not caring to
cover up his private parts).
Getheng watbyrakai mimirongwa.
He was laughing shamelessly (i.e.
without covering his mouth with
his hand).
watet- v to send (away), to post Ang
songthangchina dongangwachi
nangtymna chiti watetni. When I
have arrived in my own country I
will send you letters. Stem rong
chi dok tanaimu chiti wateta. You
put sixteen rupees worth of stamps
and post the letter.
watwa watwa adv scattered all over
the place
watyi n TIME rainy season
wawa ideo the sound of someone
throwing something Bandi
kherengwachido wachu byryi
When Bandi resisted, he was
thrown four bamboo lengths, it is
said, Im telling you!
welang ~ welang welang adv
quickly, fast
wek ideo squeal! oink! the sound of
a pig
wek- v to sweep
wekwak- adj1 to be very soft (like
mud), sloppy Ram wekwakok. The
road is very soft like mud.
wel- v to burn (as a sensation)
Jaryt wela chillies burn. mykren
wela walkhumigymyn. My eyes
burn because of the smoke.
162
wel- v to turn left and right, to

zigzag
welet- v to flash
wen- ~ wen- v to wind around, to
wrap around, make as a coil
wen ~ wet n MSRE time, turn wet
sa ~ wen sa once, wen ni twice
wen tham three times
wen ~ wyn ~ wyt- ~ wot v to
sharpen, to whet
weng n PLANT node (of bamboo),
joint
wengwang ~ gorweng n ANIM
species of cricket that makes the
noise of a screaming baby or a
woman being murdered
wenphak- v to wind around
something Dypyw ang chakaw
wenphakwa. The snake wound
itself around my hand.
wenwen- v to wind around Panchi
kara wenwena. to wind a rope
around the tree.
wet ~ wen n clf time, turn wetsa ~
wensa once, wenni twice
wentham three times
wetanchian ~ wetantian adv every
time
When Bandi makes a great effort,
he throws the tiger whoooosh!
four bamboo lengths away, it is
said, Im telling you!
wil- ~ wyl- v to go down, to
descend, to get off
-wil evsp V around Kynsangdo
raiwilokno alsiado.
Raiwilwilokno. Later, the tiger got
the scent of the human and walked
around the king, it is said. He
walked round and round, it is said.
-wilwil evsp V round and round V
around Kynsangdo matsado
morotsyn manaimyng raiwilokno
alsiado. Raiwilwilokno. Later, the
tiger got the scent of the human
and walked around the king, it is
said. He walked round and round,
it is said.
winwin- v to wind (something
around something)
wongong- v to stir
wongwet- v to dangle
wot- ~ wyt- ~ wen- ~ wyn- v to
sharpen, to whet
wungwung- v to stir
wuuuuk ideo wooosh! the sound of
something big falling down
wyiset- v to wipe off
wyl- ~ wil- v to go down, to
descend, to get off
wylang- v to go down, descend
wyn ~ wen ~ wyt- ~ wot- v to
sharpen, to whet
wynget- v to dangle
-wyngwang evsp V in a confused
way
wyngwang- v to wag Kyi dimai
wyngwangaidong. The dog is
wagging its tail.
wyngwet- v to swing, to move back
and forth
wyt- ~ wot- ~ wen- ~ wyn- v to
sharpen, to whet
Y
yh yhm, eh Expresses hesitation.
yhy procl I dont agree, no, yes
yis ~ hyits ~ hys ~ hyis ~ tyis ~ tys
indignation.
ym ~ am procl I agree, affirmative,
okay, thats right Ichi taw
163
banok nookno. Ym. Rawbo

nookno. Theres a bird trapped
here he said, it is said. Ok, catch
it, he said it is said. Ang
jywchengnine Ym. I will go to
bed now. Okay.
ymbuuu ideo moo! the sound of a
cow
ymbyng n ART bamboo flute
ympong adj2 lopsided, convex,
having a surface or boundary that
curves or bulges outward, as the
exterior of a sphere Tyibekan
ympong. A traditional water bottle
is lopsided.
ymyi interj huh?! what?!
interjection of surprise
yndyn adv for nothing, in vain, for
free, simply
ytyk- v to do like this/that Ytykaria,
teewrawrawmi gawido. They do
just like that, the girls of
nowadays.
ytykchiba disccon but, however
Acha babaji, angmi joraaw
chaina mannima? manniba.
ytykchiba rajasa nangnine. Ok,
fortune teller, can you see my love
match? I can, but I will of
course need one hundred
[rupees]. Angna mamyngawan
nangchawa, ytykchiba naa angna
aro angmyng jykna nang
khengwa dabat ang thyicha dabat
angaw muai sana hynbo
nookno. I dont need anything.
However, you keep giving me and
my wife something to eat as long
as you live until I die, he said, it
is said.
ytykchido disccon so, in that case
Nangtym ang nokaw sawwaba
nemariok. Anga nangtymaw
mythelbiok aro ang nok
chungkhuchido, ina daiai
mannichym anga tangka
nookno. Ytykchido ningba
phalthang nokaw sawaimyng
hathapyra phalchie mannima?
It is really good that you burnt
down my house. I thank you very
much and if my house had been
bigger, I would have gotten more
money than this, Thengthon said,
it is said. In that case, after we
will have burnt down our own
houses and sold the ashes, will we
get money too?
ytyken adv like this/that Atakna
raiawa? O, gylgylarong
ytyken, haratwanasa. Why have
you come? Oh, I am just
roaming like this, just because Im
lazy.
ytykgaba adj2 this kind of, like
this, such Angba ytykgaba khadi
ranichymte. I would also buy
clothes like these.
ytykhal expr it doesnt matter
ytykmachiba disccon but,
however Gadakchichiaimuna
uba sagyraiba jumu
khathirithirioknotyi. He cut it into
pieces again and disposed of it
reassembled once again, it is said,
to our surprise.
ytykyi adv like this/that Ma,
manni dongchido ie parang
kunsaaw kawanchyi noai
hynokno. Ytykyi songtawai
hynokno. Well, you will (be able
to shoot the eagle), try to shoot
this culm of reed, she said and
gave one. She chose one and put it
upright like this, it is said.
ytykyimyng ~ ytykyimu ~
ytykyimuna ~ ytykyimung ~
ytkyimungna disccon so then,
164
having done that/this Teewe alsia

rajano song damsachi. Ytykyimyng
alsia raja song damsachi noaisa.
Kam khana nobo haratanoaro ue,
alsiae. Ytykyimyng jykba myngni
khymanoro. Jyk myngni khymano.
Ytykyimyng sanaba jyk paina
nangano, jywna jyk paina
nangano. Now, there is a lazy
king, it is said, in a certain village.
So then, a lazy king in a certain
village, Im saying, right. He is
reluctant to do work, it is said, that
one, the lazy person. So then, he is
married to two wives, it is said. He
is married to two wives, it is said.
So then, his wives have to carry
the lazy king in order to eat, it is
said, and his wives have to carry
him in order to sleep, it is said.
Ytym myngkorokan ha
kamarokno. Ytykyimungna
kamaimungna kynsangdo
jywgaba noksang raiaakno. The
six of them worked weeding the
haba, it is said. So then, after
weeding the haba their mother
went home, it is said.
Ytykyimyng wensa rypangthiriokno.
Hawtyi sakchikokno magachakba
tyinyngchian. Now you will
bathe once more and you will be
very beautiful, said the fox, it is
said. He soaked for a while, it is
said, the deer, in the water.
ytykyisa disccon/adv therefore, like
that/this, then, thats why, so
Saepdyrang jalangokkhon noai
Arong nokma chaikhawwachi
Arong nokmami mukhangaw
khiemu thyiokno. Ytykyisa ue
Arong nokma thyiwamisa saepe
bondyk paiaimu sipaidyrang
dangna manokno. He said:
Maybe the white soldiers have
run away and when headman
Arong surreptitiously looked,
having hit headman Arong in the
face, he died, it is said. Thats
why, because of headman Arongs
death, the gun-carrying white
soldiers were able to enter the
village, it is said. Ytykyisa Bandie
balaidongano [] Bandi spoke
like this, it is said []
yyy interj uhm, eh. Expresses
hesitation.
165
166
APPENDICES
167
Counting in Atong
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
rongsa
rongni
rongtham
byryi
banga
korok
sene
chatgyk
chykhyw
chyigyk ~ chek
khole rongsa
khole rongni
khole rongtham
khole byryi
khole banga
khole korok
khole sene
khole chatgyk
khole chykhyw
kholechyi
21
22
23
25
26
27
28
29
30
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
chitsa
chini
chitham
chibyri
charanga ~ chibanga
chidok
chisene ~ chisyni
chichat
chisykhu
kholgyk ~ kholgryk ~ khol ~ rumsa
khole rongsa
khole rongni
khole rongtham
khole rongbyryi
khole rongbanga
khole rongkorok
khole rongsene
khole rongchatgyk
khole rongchykhyw
kholechyi
rumsa rongsa
rumsa rongni
rumsa rongtham
rumsa byryi
rumsa banga
rumsa korok
rumsa sene
rumsa chatgyk
rumsa chykhyw
kholgyk sa
kholgyk ni
kholgyk tham
kholgyk byryi
kholgyk banga
kholgyk korok
kholgyk sene
kholgyk chatgyk
kholgyk chykhyw
kholachi
kholgryk sa
kholgryk ni
kholgryk tham
kholgryk byryi
kholgryk banga
kholgryk korok
kholgryk sene
kholgryk chatgyk
kholgryk chykhyw
kholachi
168
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
kholechyi
khole chitsa
khole chini
khole chitham
khole chibyri
khole charanga
khole chidok
khole chisene
khole chichat
khole chisykhu
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
rumni
rumni rongsa
rumni rongni
rumni rongtham
rumni byryi
rumni banga
rumni korok
rumni sene
rumni chatgyk
rumni chykhyw
rumni chyigyk
rumni chitsa
rumni chini
rumni chitham
rumni chibyri
rumni charanga
rumni chidok
rumni chisene
rumni chichat
rumni chisykhu
rumsa chyigyk
rumsa chitsa
rumsa chini
rumsa chitham
rumsa chibyri
rumsa charanga
rumsa chidok
rumsa chisene
rumsa chichat
rumsa chisykhu
sotbyri
sotbyri sa
sotbyri ni
sotbyri tham
sotbyri byryi
sotbyri banga
sotbyri korok
sotbyri sene
sotbyri chatgyk
sotbyri chykhyw
sotbonga
sotbonga sa
sotbonga ni
sotbonga tham
sotbonga byryi
sotbonga banga
sotbonga korok
sotbonga sene
sotbonga chatgyk
sotbonga chykhyw
kholachi
kholachi sa
kholachi ni
kholachi tham
kholachi byri
kholachi banga
kholachi dok
kholachi sene
kholachi chat
kholachi sykyw
169
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
rumtham
rumtham rongsa
rumtham rongni
rumtham rongtham
rumtham byryi
rumtham banga
rumtham korok
rumtham sene
rumtham chatgyk
rumtham chykhyw
sotdok
sotdok sa
sotdok ni
sotdok tham
sotdok byryi
sotdok banga
sotdok korok
sotdok sene
sotdok chatgyk
sotdok chykhyw
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
rumtham chyigyk
rumtham chitsa
rumtham chini
rumtham chitham
rumtham chibyri
rumtham charanga
rumtham chidok
rumtham chisene
rumtham chichat
rumtham chisykhu
sotsene ~ sotsyni
sotsene sa
sotsene ni
sotsene tham
sotsene byri
sotsene banga
sotsene korok
sotsene sene
sotsene chatgyk
sotsene chykhyw
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
rumbyryi
rumbyryi rongsa
rumbyryi rongni
rumbyryi rongtham
rumbyryi rongbyryi
rumbyryi banga
rumbyryi korok
rumbyryi sene
rumbyryi chatgyk
rumbyryi chykhyw
kholchangbyryi
kholchangbyryi rongsa
kholchangbyryi rongni
kholchangbyryi rongtham
kholchangbyryi rongbyryi
kholchangbyryi banga
kholchangbyryi korok
kholchangbyryi sene
kholchangbyryi chatgyk
kholchangbyryi chykhyw
sotchet
sotchet sa
sotchet ni
sotchet tham
sotchet byryi
sotchet banga
sotchet korok
sotchet sene
sotchet chatgyk
sotchet chykhyw
170
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
rumbyryi chyigyk
kholchangbyryi chyigyk
sotsykhu
rumbyryi chitsa
kholchangbyryi chitsa
sotsykhu sa
rumbyryi chini
kholchangbyryi chini
sotsykhu ni
rumbyryi chitham
kholchangbyryi chitham
sotsykhu tham
rumbyryi chibyri
kholchangbyryi chibri
sotsykhu byryi
rumbyryi charanga
kholchangbyryi charanga
sotsykhu banga
rumbyryi chidok
kholchangbyryi chidok
sotsykhu korok
rumbyryi chisene
kholchangbyryi chisene
sotsykhu sene
rumbyryi chichat
kholchangbyryi chichat
sotsykhu chatgyk
rumbyryi chisykhu
kholchangbyryi chisykhu
sotsykhu chykhyw
rajasa
rumbanga
rajasa rongsa
rumbanga rongsa
rajasa rongni
rumbanga rongni
rajasa rongtham
rumbanga rongtham
rajasa rongbyryi
rumbanga rongbyryi
rajasa rongbanga
rumbanga rongbanga
etc.
etc.
115
rajasa charanga ~ rajasa chibonga
etc.
200
rajani
300
rajatham
etc.
1,000 hajal ~ hajalsa
1,101 hajalsa rajasa rongsa
etc.
2,000 hajalni
etc.
7,895 hajalsene rajachatgyk kholchangbyryi charanga ~
hajalsene rajachatgyk sotsykhu banga
1,00,000 lak ~ laksa
2,50,675 lakkholgykbanga rajakorok sotsyni banga ~
lakkholebanga rajakorok rumtham banga
1,00,00,000 kror ~ krorsa
15,59,81,733 krorcharanga laksotbonga chykhyw hajalkholchangbyryi rongsa
rajasene kholachi tham ~ krorcharanga lakrumni chisykhu
hajalrumbyryi rongsa rajasene khole chitham
171
Numbers borrowed from English

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
jero
wan
tu
tri
por
paip
siks ~ sik
seben
eet
nain
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1000
1000000
ten
ileben
twelp
tyrtin
portin
piptin
sikstin ~ siktin
sebentin
eetin
naintin
twenti
twenti wan
tyrti
porti
pipti
sikti
sebenti
eeti
nainti
wan handryt
wan tawsyn
wan milion
Numbers borrowed from Hindi

1
2
3
4
5
6
Atong
Hindi
eek
do
tiin
cha ~ char
panch
che
7
8
9
10
11
12
Atong
Hindi
saat
aat
no
dys ~ das
giara
bara
172
Days of the Week

English
Atong
Bengali
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
sombal
mongolbal
butbal
bistibal
sukulbal ~ sykulbal ~ sykubal
sunibal
rubibal
Months of the Year

English
Atong Modern Style
Atong Old Style
Bengali
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
jenuari
phebuari
march
epril
me
jun
julai
agos ~ agys
septembol ~ septembyl
oktobol ~ oktobyl
nobembol ~ nobembyl
desembol ~ desembyl
makja
pargunja
choietja
boisaja
jetja
asalja
sawynja
badolja
asyngja ~ asingja
katija
agynja
mairaja
173
Lexicon of Kinship Terms: Atong English

English has far fewer kinship terms than Atong. It is therefore not possible to translate
each Atong word by a different English word. Some Atong kinship terms can be
translated into English, but a description needs to be added because the English word is
not specific enough. For example, the words awang, dytyi, haw and syi can all be
translated by uncle in English, but the Atong words refer to four different, specific
relationships. This is why a description is added after a colon, like this:
awang uncle: fathers younger brother
For other Atong kinship terms, there is no English word available at all, and only a
description can be given in English.
abi elder sister. Mothers-in-law can call

each other abi too.
abu grandmother. This word is also used
to address an unrelated elderly woman.
achu grandfather. Can also be used by a
grandson when addressing his
grandfather. This word is also used to
address an unrelated elderly man. achu
ambi grandparents, ancestors. This
address an elephant when you are in the
jungle.
achuthangmaran a grandfather and his
grandchild
ade stepmother
akai aunt: mothers elder sister. Also
used to address an unrelated married
woman older than the speaker.
akaithangmaran my akai and her
younger sisters child
ama mother. Can also be used to talk
about or address an aunt. Can also be
used by a mother to address her
daughter.
ambithangmaran a grandmother and

her grandchild
anai aunt: fathers sister
anyng (1) aunt: fathers sister (2) sisterin-law: husbands wife
asyi ~ asi aunt: mothers younger sister
awa father
awang (1) uncle: fathers younger
brother (2) what children call their
stepfather
awyi grandmother
baba father, daddy, dad. Can also be
used by father or mother when they
address their son. Can also be used to
talk about or address an uncle.
baimaran chingmaran distant relatives
baimaran distant relatives
baisakthangmaran people who belong
to the same mahari
biawthang brother-in-law: wifes elder
brother
biawthangmaran my wifes elder
brother and me together
KINSHIP TERMS
bochi (Siju dialect), jachung (Badri
dialect) sister-in-law: elder brothers
wife
bonyng brother-in-law: the relation of a
man and his younger sisters husband
or a man and his wifes elder brother,
any man of another mahari from the
same generation yourself.
bochithangmaran my wife and her
sister or brother together
chamai ~ chame (1) marriageable
female cousin, (2) the relation of
female cousins from intermarriageable
families, (3) the relation of the parents
of a married couple
chamethangmaran a couple of
marriageable cross-cousins, a boy and
girl who can marry
dada elder brother. This word is also
used to speak about or address a related
older male relative of your own
generation: cousin, or to address an
unrelated man older than you.
dytyi uncle: fathers elder brother
dytyithangmaran my dytyi and his
younger brothers child
gumi brother-in-law: elder sisters
husband or husbands elder brother
gumithangmaran my husband and my
younger sister or younger brother
together
haw uncle: mothers brother
hawmaran my haw and his (elder or
younger) sisters unmarried child
hawnokhol father-in-law, deceased
father-in-laws heir, addressed as mama
hawnokholburung a group that is
formed when one or more fathers-inlaw and sons-in-law come together: a
group of hawnokhol and khynokhol
174
jachung (1) (Siju and Badri dialects)

the relation of a man and his wifes
elder sister, or of a woman and her
younger sisters husband (2) (Badri
dialect) sister-in-law: wifes elder sister
jachungthanmaran my husband and
my elder sister together
janaw elder sister. This word is also
used to address an older female cousin
or a woman older than the speaker.
janawburung a group of more than two
sisters
janawmaran two sisters
jojong younger brother. This word is
also used to talk about or address a
related younger male of your own
generation: cousin, to address a young
male unrelated person younger than the
speaker.
jong younger brother. This word is also
used to address a younger male cousin
or an unrelated man younger than the
speaker.
jongsyri brother-in-law: spouses
younger brother
jyk spouse
jyw ~ jywgaba mother
jywburung a group of mothers and
daughters
khyryithang ~ khyrythang nephew
khyryithangsyw great-nephew: the son
of my husbands sisters daughter
kynokhol son-in-law: deseased testators
son-in-law.
mama uncle: mothers brother. This
unrelated man older than the speaker in
a respectful way, and to address my
father-in-law.
KINSHIP TERMS
mani aunt: fathers sister. This word is
also used to address your mother-inlaw.
mawsa ~ mosa (1) marriageable male
cousin: the child of mama mothers
brother and anaifathers sister or of
awang fathers younger brother and
asyi mothers younger sister (2) the
relation of male cousins from
intermarriageable families (3) a male
friend belonging to an
intermarriageable family. (4) friendly
term to address a person.
mawsathangmaran ~
mosathangmaran two boys of
different maharis, for example Marak
and Sangma, in two possible
relationships depending on the gender
of the speaker. Male speaker: my elder
speaker: my elder brothers son and my
son.
nai aunt: fathers sister
naimaran my nai and her (elder or
younger) brothers unmarried child
nainokhol mother-in-law, addressed as
mani
nainokholburung a group of mothersin-law and daughters-in-law
nainokholthangmaran my nai and her
(older or younger) brothers married
child
namchyk niece
namchyksyw grand-niece / great-niece:
the daughter of my husbands sisters
daughter
namgaba niece
namnokhol daughter-in-law
namnokholburung group of daughtersin-law
175
naw younger sister. This word is also

used to address a younger female
cousin or an unrelated woman younger
than the speaker
nawsyri sister-in-law: younger brothers
wife
nokchama the relationship of the parents
of a married couple
nokchina ~ nokna the heiress of a
family or her husband
nono younger sister. This word is also
used to talk about or address a related
younger female of your generation:
cousin, to address a young unrelated
female person younger than the
speaker.
nyng aunt: fathers sister
phawjong ~ phawjong elder brother.
This word is also used to address an
older male cousin or a man older than
the speaker.
phawjongmaran ~ phawjongmaran
two elder brothers
rymyl (1) marriageable female cousin,
(2) the relation of female cousins from
couple, (4) girlfriend, lover, sweetheart
sabanthai son. This word is also used
to talk about the male children of my
elder or younger brother.
samynchyk daughter. This word is also
used to talk about the male children of
my elder or younger brother.
sathyra stepchild
sadu brother-in-law: the relation of men
who married women that are sisters.
sadu chunggaba the elder brother of a
sadu. sadu mylgaba the younger
brother of a sadu
KINSHIP TERMS
sangmaracha two persons from the
same mahari who got married
syi uncle: mothers younger brother
syimaran my syi and her elder sisters
child
syw grandchild
wa ~ wagaba father
176
wamaran a father and his child (son or

daughter)
wang (1) uncle: fathers younger brother
(2) stepfather
wangmaran my wang and his elder
brothers child
Lexicon of Kinship Terms: English Atong

aunt akai (mothers elder sister), asyi ~ asi
(mothers younger sister), nyng (fathers
sister), anyng (fathers sister), mani
(fathers sister), nai (fathers sister), anai
(fathers sister)
brother dada (elder brother), phawjong ~

phawjong (elder brother), jong (younger
brother) jojong (younger brother)
brother-in-law gumi(elder sisters husband
or husbands elder brother),
jongsyri(spouses younger brother),
bonyng(the relation of a man and his
younger sisters husband or a man and his
wifes elder brother), biawthang (wifes
elder brother), sadu(the relation of men who
married women that are sisters)
cousin chamai ~ chame (female cousin),

rymyl (female cousin), mawsa ~ mosa
(male cousin),
daughter samynchyk
daughter-in-law namnokhol
father awa, baba, wa
father-in-law hawnokhol, mama
grandchild syw
granddaughter syw
grandfather achu
grandmother abu, awyi
grand-nephew / great-nephew khyryithangsyw (the son of my husbands sisters
daughter)
grand-niece / great-niece namchyksyw

(the daughter of my husbands sisters
daughter)
grandson syw
husband biphagaba, jyk
mother ama, jyw
mother-in-law nainokhol
nephew khyryithang ~ khyrythang
niece namchyk, namgaba
sister abi (elder sister), janaw (elder sister),
naw (younger sister) nono (younger sister)
sister-in-law bochi ~ jachung (elder
brothers wife), anyng (husbands wife),
jachung (wifes elder sister), nawsyri
(younger brothers wife)
son sabanthai
son-in-law kynokhol
spouse jyk
stepchild sathyra
stepfather wang
stepmother ade
uncle mama (mothers brother), haw
(mothers brother), syi (mothers younger
brother), dytyi(fathers elder brother), wang
(fathers younger brother), awang (fathers
younger brother)
wife gawigaba, jyk
177
Names of some places and rivers in Atong

Agrengguthum ~ Agrenggythum ~
Agrenggythym
Alokphang
Alokphang Buru Hawai
Alokphang Ningbrek
Badri Agreng
Badri Jaisyruguthum ~ Jaisyrugythum ~
Jaisyrugythym
Badri Maiduguthum ~ Maidugythum ~
Maidugythym
Badri Nengruguthum ~ Nengrugythum ~
Nengrugythym
Badri Rongdrong
Badri Wathaiguthum ~ Wathaigythum
~ Wathaigythym
Baghmara Bolsagre
Baghmara Konaguthum ~ Konagythum
~ Konagythym
Baghmara Rangtokram
Baghmara Songdan
Baghmara Wakaisu
Balkhal
Balphakram
Balsriguthum
Chondrosuk
Dabatwari
Dajong
Dalnengguthum ~ Dalnenggythum ~
Dalnenggythum
Dambuk Atong
Dapsi Nengruguthum ~ Nengrugythum ~
Nengrugythym
Dawel Agarguthum ~ Agargythum ~
Agargythym
Dawel Rongraguthum ~ Rongragythum
~ Rongragythym
Dawel Wakpangram
Dawylingchiguthum ~
Dawylingchigythum ~
Dawylingchigythym
Dorenggo Wadachong
Durakhal
Garaigyty ~ Garaigythum ~ Garaigythym
Goirapatal
Gongga Hadyng
Halwa Atong
Jadi
Khalu Bokchung
Khalu Garo Hills
Khalu Khasia
Khalu Kyndamguthum ~
Kyndamgythum ~ Kyndamgythym
Khalu Kyndamguthum ~
Kyndamgythum ~ Kyndamgythym
Kharukhol
Kynchung Kasriguthum ~ Kasrigythum
~ Kasrigythym
Masigat
Maidu Hawai
Moradam
Nongal ~ Nongwal
Patalguthum ~ Patalgythum ~
Patalgythym
Raiwak
Raiwak Choklolguthum ~
Choklokgythum ~ Choklolgythym
Raiwak Chondolsu
Raiwak Dawkaparam
Raiwak Khambaipal
Raiwak Malengmaguthum ~
Malengmagythum ~
Malengmagythym
Raiwak Rongcheguthum ~
Rongchegythum ~ Rongchegythym
Raiwak Rongraiguthum ~
Rongraigythum ~ Rongraigythym
NAMES OF PLACES AND RIVERS

Rengchiguthum ~ Rengchigythum ~
Rengchigythym
Rongara
Rongchek Hasym
Rongchekgre
Rongchekgre ~ Bokbakguthum ~
Bokbakgythum ~ Bokbakgythym
Rongchekgre Choklokguthum ~
Choklokgythum ~ Choklokgythym
Rongdyng Hawai
Rongreng Pal
Rongru Hasem
Rongsa Hawai
Rongsu
Rongsu Hasym
Rongthokguthum ~ Rongthokgythum ~
Rongthokgythym
Ronthokguthum ~ Rongthokgythum ~
Rongthokuthum
Senengkri
178
Sijyw
Sijyw Arteka ~ Artika ~ Areteka
Sijyw Damuguthum ~ Damugythum ~
Damugythym
Sijyw Duramong
Sijyw Hadura
Sijyw Songcham
Symsang
Tawpakkhal
Tyinang
Tyipai
Waimong Dalengguthum ~ Dalengythum
~ Dalengythym
Waimong Gonggrot
Waimong Habri
Waimong Hagympal
Waimong Hangsapal
Waimong Maiduguthum ~ Maidugythum
~ Maidugythym
Waimong Matchirampat

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Atong English

Seino van Breugel

Atong English Dictionary

The Atong alphabet

Seino van Breugel, 2015

Seino van Breugel, 2015

About Atong and its Speakers

What do we see in the dictionary?

Seino van Breugel, 2015

Seino van Breugel, 2015

Seino van Breugel, 2015

example sentence in Atong

indication of the semantic

scientific name in Latin

Seino van Breugel, 2015

Abbreviations for word classes and entry types

time word (non-deictic)

deictive time word

verb, used in the

verb that takes a Target

khatha jyksai, coordinate

verb that cannot take any

verb with a prototypically

intransitive verb which

Secondary verb (can take

Seino van Breugel, 2015

Symbols used in the dictionary

separates the different forms of a headword

Abbreviations for semantic domains of nouns

human activities, results

persons, designations for

PLACE places, landmarks and

PLANT plants and parts of plants

body parts of humans and

food items, ingredients

substances (not those

ghosts, spirits and other

Seino van Breugel, 2015

ATONG ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Seino van Breugel, 2015

of the filter (janti) which stands in

What are you thinking?! [said]

Seino van Breugel, 2015

akaithangmaran n KIN my akai

Seino van Breugel, 2015

away to such a far-away country.

Seino van Breugel, 2015

-asol evsp really, truly Udo gari

Seino van Breugel, 2015

that put something in it. It shat in

Babyra n SUPER supreme god

Seino van Breugel, 2015

masuaw kakna bakaidong. The

Seino van Breugel, 2015

stomach is still empty. Nangmi

Seino van Breugel, 2015

bathan adj2 lying on your back

Seino van Breugel, 2015

sealed with banana leaves and

Seino van Breugel, 2015

bins n PLANT species of green

Seino van Breugel, 2015

borong n PLANT cob, part of the