Jj

jabalng       
nominal
 
frog
 
note: This is a general word for all kinds of frogs.
jabarda       
nominal
 
male skin name
jaben       
nominal
 
frill-necked lizard, also called blanket lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii
 
note: The flesh may be eaten after being lightly roasted on hot coals. These lizards are often seen looking for insects after rain, especially in burnt areas.
jabirng-nga       
coverb (intr.)
   1.
to be soft
   2.
to be wrinkled up
Jabirng-nga ga-yu danganyin gahan. 'This tucker is wrinkled up.' (LM)
 
see also nu-jabirng-nga.
jabirri       
nominal
 
stone knife
Jabirri-garang den-na ba-bu-jan lamang. 'They used to cut up meat with a stone knife.' (LM)
jabuga       
nominal
 
king brown snake Pseudechis australis
 
note: This snake is dangerous as it is aggressive and has a very poisonous bite.
jabutj       
nominal
   1.
grandfather (mother's father)
Laganyan ba-ma-jan. Nganing-gin-yi jabutj-yi ma-jan. 'They used to get echidnas. My grandfather used to get them.' (LL, text)
   2.
grandchild (from a man to his daughter's children)
 
see also nu-jabutj, nu-jabutj-mang.
jagalgarin       
nominal
 
rainstone
jagambarrin       
nominal
dialect HL, LL
 
garfish
 
see also barrbarrin.
jagatjjin       
nominal
 
bloodwood tree Eucalyptus ptychocarpa
 
note: This tree has large red flowers and large shiny leaves. The outer skin of the leaf can be blown up like a small balloon.
jagort       
nominal
 
rainbow
jaguran       
nominal
 
cocky apple Planchonia careya
 
note: Possums like to eat the fruit of this tree. People also eat the fruit, but only the inside yellow flesh.
jahan       
interrogative nominal
 
what?
Nu-naw-ma-yi gahan ginggu-nanda-n-ngana let-da jahan-gunda? 'Lots of them are looking at us, why?' (PH)
"Jahan mahan wirril-ma ga-yu?" yaha-ny nganung. '"What is this red thing?" she said to me.' (LM, text)
Jahan-gu dowh-ma ginggu-bu-n-guju? 'Why is he shooting at us?' (LM, text)
 
see also jahanjahan.
jahanjahan       
nominal
 
anything and everything
Yakba, marnamnyan, jahan-jahan nge-re-jan. 'Crocodiles, barramundi, we used to spear anything and everything.' (PH, text)
 
see also jahan.
jahja       
nominal
 
area behind the knee
jakgarljakgarl-ma       
coverb (tr.)
 
to slurp, to eat noisily
Jakgarljakgarl-ma ga-da gahan danganyin-ma yimbama gahan warren wayi-tjjalbu. 'That kid always slurps his tucker noisily.' (LM)
jakgarrin       
nominal
stem jakga-
 
yamstick
Gurrh-ma ga-ba-bu-n gakgawurin, jakgarrin-garang. 'They're digging for long yams with a yamstick.' (LL)
jalabol       
nominal
 
black plum Vitex glabrata
 
note: The fruit may be eaten when they turn black; they are very sweet. The straight branches can be made into firesticks.
jalamariny1       
nominal
 
tree orchid Cymbidium canaliculatum & Dendrobium affine
 
note: The stems can be made into paint brushes. The sap that comes from the stem is very sticky and can be mixed with paint or ochre to keep it strong.
jalamariny2       
nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL
 
swordfish Pristis microdon
jalapbuny       
nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL
 
slippery lizard Ctenotus inornatus, C. pantherinus
 
note: This small lizard is rubbed on the face of young boys before initiation. It is supposed to stop the growth of whiskers when they get older.
jalawuk       
nominal
 
small bandicoot
jalbort       
nominal
 
swag
 
note: This word is not normally used; lahan is the more common Wagiman word for 'swag'.
 
see also lahan.
jaley-ma       
coverb (intr.)
 
to be hanging
Bindirrin ga-yu gahan-ma jaley-may-gu borndedi. 'That fork is for hanging up billycans.' (LM)
Wajala jaley-ma ga-yu, wirin-leying. 'The flying fox is hanging from the tree.' (PH)
Jaleyh-ma ga-gorndo-n borndedi. 'He's holding the billycan by the handle.' (HL)
jalk-ga       
coverb (tr.)
 
to hold
Wayi-tjjalbu-yi gayh-yi jalk-ga ga-ma-n borndedi. 'That kid is holding a billycan.' (HL)
jalma       
nominal
 
plant sp.
jalngh-nga       
coverb (intr.)
   1.
to drip
Jalngh-jalng-nga ga-yu gahan wahan. 'The tap is dripping.' (LM)
   2.
to run, to flow
Jalngh-nga ga-yu gidurtdal. 'His nose is running.' (HL)
jalunggin       
nominal
 
stripy fish
jalyirri       
nominal
variant jalyarri (PH)
 
male skin name
jamarlak       
nominal
 
clapstick
 
note: The more common Wagiman word for 'clapstick' is garnbik.
 
see also garnbik.
jamba       
particle
variant jambay (HL, opt.)
   1.
won't, can't, etc.
Wihya-ngala jamba nga-nga-berda nga-nyar-ma-n! 'No, I won't cook it! I am tired.' (LM)
Jamba gi-ya-ngana gahan yondorin. 'We can't go along that road.' (LM)
   2.
don't
Jamba mu-nawu gahan danganyin lamang! 'Don't you lot give away the food!' (LM)
jambay       
interrogative nominal
 
when?
Jambay mi-ya-min jorro-ma? 'When will you go back?' (LM, text)
jambijina       
nominal
 
male skin name
jambu       
nominal
dialect PH
 
long yam Diascorea transversa
 
note: See comments under the entry for gakgawurin.
 
see also gakgawurin.
jamh-ma       
coverb (tr.)
 
to eat
Bambidi ba-di-jan jamh-ma-yan marlarluga-yi. 'The old men used to eat turtles.' (PH, text)
jamut       
nominal
 
bush turkey, also called bustard Ardeotis australis
 
note: This word is synonymous with jekban 'bush turkey'. It is perhaps not a proper Wagiman word. See comments under the entry for jekban.
 
see also jekban.
janama       
nominal
 
male skin name
jangala       
nominal
 
male skin name
jangari       
nominal
 
male skin name
jangayh-ma       
coverb (intr.)
 
to beg
Gayh-gorden warri-buga-yi, dangany-gu ga-ba-yu, jangayh-ma. 'The kids are begging for tucker.' (HL)
jangowh-ma       
coverb (intr.)
dialect HL, LL
 
to yawn
Jangowh-ma ga-yu warren gahan now guk-ga-gu. 'That kid is yawning for sleep.' (HL)
 
see also dangah-ma.
jangurl       
nominal
 
shovel spear
 
note: The more common Wagiman word for the shovel spear is barawu.
 
see also barawu.
janh-na       
coverb (intr.)
 
to flake off
Janh-na ga-yu gumit. 'His skin is flaking off.' (LM)
jany-bulkgu       
nominal
variant jany-bulk
   1.
middle
Magu jany-bulkgu-ma wah-laying. 'It's there in the middle of the water.' (LM)
   2.
between
Gahan ga-yu jany-bulkgu wirin larima-leying marluga gahan. 'The old man is there between the two trees.' (LM)
 
see also bulkgu.
janyin       
nominal
stem janyi-
 
wichetty grub
janyiyi-ma       
infl. verb (intr.)
 
to come undone
janyngardal       
nominal
variants jalngahrdal (HL, LL), manyardal (PH), ngangartdal (TBL)
 
tongue
Jalngahrdal dorroh-ma ma-yi nganung. 'He stuck his tongue out at me.' (HL)
japbany       
nominal
 
slow
Japbany lek-ga gi-ya-ngana. 'We'll go down slowly.' (PH)
japbenyin       
nominal
 
granite
japbunyin       
nominal
 
grass sp.
jardawk       
nominal
variant jardok (HL)
 
friar bird, also called leatherhead Philemon spp.
 
note: These birds eat nectar from flowers. They are very noisy at dawn.
jardup-ba       
coverb (tr.)
variants jardop-ba (HL), jarrop-ba (PH)
   1.
to bury
Nu-wapba-mang nung-gin, ginawiying, jardup-ba ba-ma-yi. 'They buried his brother somewhere around here.' (LM, text)
   2.
to cover
But-da nga-ma-yi danganyin. Yortdin, yort-ba, jardup-ba nga-ma-yi na-ni nganung danganyin. 'I roasted the tucker. I covered it with ashes until it was cooked, my tucker.' (LM)
 
see also lort-da.
jarnin       
nominal
   1.
bamboo Bambusa arnhemica
Dubay-an ba-ya-nggi jarnin denh-denh. 'They went low down cutting bamboo.' (LM, text)
   2.
spear
   3.
prickle (on echidna)
   4.
saltwater crocodile
Ni-ganda-ganday gahan wardan-ma jarnin. 'The saltwater crocodile is long, like bamboo.' (LM)
 
note: Hollowed bamboo stems are used to make long-stemmed smoking pipes and to breathe through when swimming underwater to hunt magpie geese. The new soft shoots can be eaten.
jarrang       
nominal
 
current, running water
Jaleyh me-ge-wu, garra-garang. Jarrang durdut-da ga-ya, worrok-ga ga-ma-n. 'You hang it (bandahan) with stones. The water runs over it and washes it.' (LM)
jarruk       
nominal
   1.
egg
Nganku, ga-ba-dipba-n jarruk, lardili-yan. 'The chook is laying eggs.' (LM)
   2.
bee bread
   3.
boil
Lek-ga ya-nggi jarruk nganung, lari-gunda. 'The boil has gone down from my arm.' (LM)
jaw       
interjection
 
come on!
Jaw! 'Come on!' (HL)
jawar       
nominal
 
Carpentaria palm Carpentaria acuminata
 
note: The cabbage or growing point from the stem apex can be eaten after it has been boiled. The pale, soft pith in the trunk can also be eaten. It tastes better if it is boiled. The stems can be hollowed out with fire and used as didgeridoos.
jawh-ma       
coverb (tr.)
 
to water, to pour water on
Jawh bunggu-bu-ni-guju. "Yow mu-da-guju!" 'They threw water on them. "Yow, you two stand up!"' (LM, text)
Jawh-ma ga-bu-n garatjjin. 'He's watering the grass.' (LM)
Jawh ba-bu-ng guda, bort-da-wu. 'They threw water on the fire to put it out.' (LM)
jegan       
nominal
 
shitwood Gyrocarpus americanus
 
note: The wood is very soft, light and easy to carve, and is used to make coolamans and canoes. The fruit are like little helicopters and they twirl to the ground. Children often play with the fruit.
jekban       
nominal
 
bush turkey, also called bustard Ardeotis australis
 
note: The flesh is eaten after it has been cooked, and is considered excellent food. In the past, bush turkeys were hunted on the plains country with spears and boomerangs, and when they came to waterholes to drink.
 
see also jamut.
jek-ga       
coverb (intr.)
 
to shit, to defecate
Lamarra jek ba-yu-nginy lahan gerdo-gin-ngana-yarra! 'The dogs have shat on our swags!' (LM)
jelelh-ma       
coverb (intr.)
dialect HL
 
to rattle
Ge-gobe-n nganung. Jelelh-jelel-ma gi-gondo-n lawel-ba. 'You're lying to me (about having no money). You've got it rattling about in your pocket.' (HL)
 
see also belelh-ma, nyelelh-ma.
jemen-na       
coverb (intr.)
   1.
to hear, to listen
Jemen-na-wa nga-ni-nginy gornkorn-na ba-ni-nginy-wa. 'I heard them talking.' (PH, text)
Jamba jemen-na nga-nga-yu ngonggo-ma. 'I can't hear you.' (LM)
Gangaman gahan jemen munyju-ga. 'That kangaroo is going to hear you.' (PH)
Ngayh mani-yama! Ngaa ngonggo matjjin, jemen-na mi-yu nganung! 'Listen to me! I am talking to you, so listen to me!' (LM)
   2.
to think
Ga-yu jemen-na giyak-giyak-ma, jilimakgun-gu. 'He is thinking about something, maybe women.' (LM)
 
see also nga-ndi.
jenh-na       
coverb (tr.)
   1.
to spear
Jenh-nyamu ngi-bu-jan walanyja, gangaman, ngalwarnka. 'We used to spear goannas, kangaroos, short-necked turtles.' (PH, text)
   2.
to pierce
Jahan-gu jenh-na gi-bu-n gahan box? 'Why are you sticking it (a pen) through that box?' (HL)
jenmerren       
nominal
 
native gardenia Gardenia megasperma
 
note: The new growth between the uppermost leaves can be eaten like chewing gum. Though it does not have a sweet taste, it can be chewed for a long time. It is mainly eaten by children. The immature fruit can be eaten, though they are quite tough.
jernin       
nominal
stem jern-
 
smoke
Jern-yi ngan-bu-ni nibulin. 'Smoke got in my eyes.' (LM)
jerretdet       
nominal
dialect HL, LL
 
white-gaped honeyeater Lichenostomus flavus
jerrkjerrk       
nominal
 
diarrhoea
Jerrkjerrk-yi ngan-ma-n. 'I've got diarrhoea.' (LL)
jert-da       
coverb (tr.)
 
to be blocked
Yondorrin jert-da ga-yu. 'The road is blocked.' (HL)
Jahan-gu jert-da ngan-bu-n nu-wapba-mang-yi? 'Why is my brother blocking me off (from my family)?' (HL)
jetjjet       
nominal
dialect HL, LL
 
yellow-tinted honeyeater Lichenostomus flavescens
jetjjet-da       
coverb (tr.)
 
to whittle, to chip away
Jetjjet ba-bu-ng. Jarnin ga-ba-dipba-n. 'They chipped away (at the wood). They're making a spear.'
jewo-ndi       
infl. verb (tr.)
root -jewo-; past -ndi; ppfv -ng
   1.
to follow
Mani-jewo-ja magu town-leying mi-ya-min-ngana! 'You follow me that way! We're going to town.' (LM)
Boran, lek-ga-yan nge-jewo-ndi. 'We followed the river down.' (PH, text)
   2.
to resemble, to look like
Gahan gidurtdal nirra-mang nung-gin jewo-ndi. 'His face resembles his father's.' (LM)
jibirrin       
nominal
 
tree grave
Jilminy, darrp-ba ba-bu-ng, jibirrin. 'A dead baby would be put up in a tree grave.' (LM)
jibiyu       
nominal
variant jibiliyuman (PH)
 
plumed whistling duck Dendrocygna eytoni
 
note: These small ducks make good eating.
jiborn       
nominal
dialect HL, LL
 
pied butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis
jigalan       
nominal
 
whirlwind, cyclone, willy-willy
jilibin       
nominal
dialect HL, LL
 
kerosene wood Erythroxylum ellipticum
 
note: The wood is used for making a variety of implements, including boomerangs, digging sticks and ornamental carvings. It is also good for lighting fires in wet weather, as it burns well even when it is wet. The small red fruit can be eaten.
jilik-ga       
coverb (tr.)
 
to wake someone up
Guk-ga nga-yu-nginy-ma, ngu-di-nya gahan, jilik-jilik ngani-ra-ndi-guju. 'I was sleeping when you two came and woke me up.' (LM)
jili-ma       
coverb (intr.)
dialect PH
 
to move about
Nimurdal dorroh-ma ga-di-n nganung. Jili mama ga-yu nganung. 'My tooth is coming out. It's moving about.' (PH)
jilimakgun       
nominal
stem jilimakgu-
 
woman
Maman-buga gay-buga jilimakgun warh-ma nendo-gu long-nga-yan bulikgi now. 'Those women were good at riding horses and mustering cattle.' (PH, text)
jilirr-ma       
coverb (intr.)
variant jigilirrh-ma (PH)
 
to be wet
Jilirr-ma ga-yu, gogort-gunda-ma wahan. 'It is wet from the fog.' (LM)
 
see also gu-jilirr-man.
jilminy       
nominal
 
dead baby
Jilminy, jibirrin darrp-ba ba-ge-na. 'They put the dead baby up in a tree grave.' (LM)
jimarnin       
nominal
stem jimarn-
 
bloodwood sp.
jimbilang       
nominal
 
stone spear
Gangaman le-jan jimbilang-garang marluga gahan. 'That old man used to spear kangaroos with a stone spear.' (LM)
 
see also gadamalga.
jimbubuliny       
nominal
 
red currant, wild cherry Flacourtia territorialis
Jimbubuliny gahan buluman danganyin gahan orange-yiga-ma ga-yu. 'Red currants are big, like an orange.' (LM, text)
 
note: The fruit can be eaten when they turn from red to black. They are sweet and sometimes many can be found on a single tree.
jimija       
nominal
 
male skin name
jimirndirr       
nominal
 
knife
Majiyan-wehen gahan nganku jimirndirr! Denh-na gunyju-bu-n-ma nardal. 'No more playing with that knife! It might cut your hand.' (LM)
jindibiritj       
nominal
   1.
willy wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys
   2.
grey fantail Rhipidura fulignosa
   3.
flycatcher Myiagra spp.
 
note: The willy wagtail is found all over the open country, whereas the grey fantail is found only near rivers. The willy wagtail is sometimes also called a devil bird.
jindirrin1       
nominal
 
elbow
jindirrin2       
nominal
dialect HL, LL
 
mistletoe Amyema spp.
 
see also ngalirringgirri.
jinggarli       
nominal
 
show-off
Jinggarli ga-yu gahan warren wayi-tjjalbu. 'That kid is a show-off.' (LM)
 
note: This word comes from the English 'sing out'.
jinggul       
nominal
dialect LL
 
myrtlewood Lophostemon grandiflorus
 
note: The bark may be burnt to ash and then added to chewing tobacco. The wood makes good firewood, especially for cooking with. Sugarbag (native bee hives) are often found in this tree.
 
see also bunggurrun.
jiniminy       
nominal
   1.
blossom bat Macroglossus minimus
   2.
bent-wing bat Miniopteris schreibersii
jin-na       
coverb (intr.)
 
to stay a long time
Lahan jin-na nga-yu-nginy. 'I stayed at that place for a long time.' (LM)
jinyjiny-nya       
coverb (tr.)
dialect HL, LL
 
to pour out
Jinyjiny-nya nga-ge-na danganyin-leying. 'I poured (salt) on the tucker.' (LL)
jip-ba       
coverb (intr.)
 
to itch
Jip-ba ngan-bu-n lari. 'My arm is itchy.' (LM)
Jip-jip-ba ga-yu nganung kordal. 'I've got an itchy head.' (LM)
Jamba mert-mert mi-ma gahan wirin! Jip-ba gunyju-bu-n, gorro-ma. 'Don't touch that tree! It'll make you itchy later.' (LM)
jirditj       
nominal
 
brown quail Coturnix ypsilophora
Jirditj lamang "jirribit" gaa. 'The brown quail sings out "jirribit".' (LL)
 
see also jirribit.
jirribit       
nominal
dialect HL, LL
 
brown quail Coturnix ypsilophora
 
note: These small birds may be eaten, though they are difficult to find and kill. They are seen in grassy areas, never in burnt areas.
 
see also jirditj.
jirrimbin       
nominal
 
Leichhardt tree Nauclea orientalis
 
note: The large straight trunks can be carved into dugout canoes. The wood is also used for ornamental carvings. The leaves are wrapped around meat to keep it clean when it is being cooked, and are also used like plates. The fruit can be eaten when they turn brown. The fruit are also eaten by various fish and turtles.
 
see also dawungga.
jirritj       
nominal
 
wart
Jirritj, nga-gorndo-n nardal-ba. 'I've got a wart on my finger.' (HL)
jirrk       
nominal
 
woomera
jirrkjirrk       
nominal
 
golden-headed cisticola Cisticola exilis
jirrngaw-ma       
coverb (intr.)
 
to sneeze
Jirrngaw ngaha-ny barri-miya ngan-buga-ndi? 'I sneezed. Who called my name?' (LM) note: If you sneeze, this means that somebody has called your name. This is similar to the English myth that if you shudder, someone has walked over your grave.
jirrp-ba       
coverb (ambitr.)
   1.
to spill
"Jirrp ngi-bu-ng-ma wahan." "Wihya ngala, wakban-u-bi gahan jirrp-ba linyi-ra." '"You spilt that water." "No, it fell over and spilt by itself."' (LM)
   2.
to overflow
Dabuny wahan dabuny-nya nga-ga-ndi jorro-ma. Jirrp-jirrp-ba ga-ya. 'I tried to take back too much water. It's overflowing.' (LM)
   3.
to pour
Wahan jirrp-ba nga-ge-n-ma, borndedi neyenggun-leying. 'I'm pouring the water into another billycan.' (LM)
 
see also jawh-ma.
jiwarlun       
nominal
 
paperbark sp. Melaleuca leucadendra
jiwarrany       
nominal
 
long tom Strongylura kreffti
jiwurr       
nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL
 
spring
Jiwurr, binybiny-nya ga-di-n wahan. 'Water comes from a spring.' (PH)
jobongh-nga       
coverb (intr.)
dialect HL, LL
   1.
to soak
Swag nganing-gin jobongh-nga wah-yi ma-yi. 'The rain has soaked my swag.' (HL)
   2.
to walk in water
Jobongh-nga ga-di-n wah-ba. 'He's coming through the water.' (HL)
johjo       
nominal
dialect HL
 
husband
Nganing-gin marluga johjo bort yaha-ny ngani. 'My old husband died on me.' (HL, text)
 
see also jonyjony.
jokgorn       
nominal
 
cockrag
jolo-ma       
coverb (intr.)
 
to piss, to urinate
Ngan-jolo-ma-yi gahan warren wayi-tjjalbu-ma. 'The baby has pissed on me.' (LM)
jonghjong-nga       
coverb (tr.)
variant junghjung-nga (HL, PH)
 
to suck
Ngapburru ga-da junghjung-nga wayi-tjjalbu-yi. 'The baby is sucking milk from the breast.' (PH)
 
see also bonyh-nya, dorrngh-nga.
jonyjony       
nominal
variant jonyhjony (HL)
   1.
husband
   2.
brother-in-law
 
see also johjo.
jordokjordok       
nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL
 
striated pardalote Pardalotus spp.
 
note: This small bird digs a burrow in a bank to lay its eggs in.
jorihjoritj       
nominal
 
bowerbird Chlamydera nuchalis
jorlbokjorlbok       
nominal
dialect HL, LL
 
pied butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis
 
see also jiborn.
jorrngh-nga       
coverb (tr.)
variants jurrngh-nga (HL), jirrngh-nga (PH)
   1.
to squeeze, to wring out
Jorrngh nga-ma-ny lawel darrp-darrp nga-ge-ng ngurru-ba. 'I wrung the clothes out and hung them in the sun.' (LM)
   2.
to milk
Earlybela biyakgin nganing-gin buluman ngi-ya-ngga-jan, jorrngh-jorrng-ngay-gu. 'Early in the morning my big sister and I used to go for milking.' (LM, text)
jorro-ma       
coverb (intr.)
 
to return, to go back
Ga-ba-ya Katherine school, jorro ga-ba-di-n gawor. 'They go to school in Katherine, and they come back in the afternoon.' (HL, text)
Dorh munyju-ma, jorro munyju-rega. 'She will pick you up and bring you back.' (HL, text)
Wewa ngi-ma-yi garradin nganing-gin. Mani-nawu-wa jorro-ma! 'You've stolen my money. Give it back to me!' (PH)
jorrotj-ja       
coverb (intr.)
variant jarratj-ja (HL, PH)
   1.
to slip
Belkgin-leying jarratj linyi-ng. 'He slipped over in wet mud.' (PH)
   2.
to miss
Dowh nga-du-ng-ma gangaman gahan jorrotj nga-bu-ng. 'I shot at the kangaroo but I missed.' (LM)
Gay-gordin ba-ya-nggi. Ga-ba-ya jorro-ma, lahan bordo-gin-leying dup-bay-ga. Jorrotj-ja nga-nanda-yi. 'That lot have gone. They're going back to their own country to stay. I missed seeing them.' (LM)
   3.
to mistake
Jorrotj nga-ge-ng-ma gahan. Niji nganing-gin ngaha-ny, gahan neyenggun lagiban. 'I mistook him. I thought he was my uncle, but he was another man.' (LM)
 
see also borotj-ja.
jorrp-ba       
coverb (tr.)
dialect HL, PH, LL
 
to strangle
Jorrp-ba ba-ma-yi ngangirdal. 'They strangled him.' (PH)
 
see also lagibirt-da.
jort-da       
coverb (intr.)
 
to walk with a stick
Jort-da ga-yu marluga. 'The old man is walking along with a stick.' (HL)
Gahan gajirri-ma lagarra, madaru. Wir-garang ga-ya jort-da. 'That lady is short-legged. She walks with a stick.' (LM)
 
see also jort-jort, jort-doyh-ma.
jort-doyh-ma       
coverb (intr.)
 
to limp
Ngal-martdiwa jort-doyh-ma ga-ya. 'The old lady is limping.' (HL)
 
see also jort-da, jort-jort.
jort-jort       
nominal
 
walking stick
Marluga ga-ya jort-jort-garang. 'The old man goes along with a walking stick.' (HL)
 
see also jort-da, jort-doyh-ma.
jowk-ga       
coverb (tr.)
variant jok-ga (HL)
 
to send
Ala-yi jowk ngan-la-ng magu, school nga-ya-nggi magu-ma, lahan neyenggun, no-mojon lahan. 'My mother sent me to another place for school, a strange place.' (LM)
jowok       
nominal
dialect HL
   1.
common koel, also called stormbird Eudynamis scolopacea
note: The common koel has a distinctive call - jowok-jowok-jowok - which signals to the Wagiman that the wet season is soon to begin. This call is also a sign that the fruit of jalabol 'black plum' will soon be ripe.
   2.
channel-billed cuckoo Scythops novaehollandiae
   3.
spangled drongo Dicrurus bracteatus
jubak-ga       
coverb (intr.)
dialect HL, LL
 
to spit
Jubak-ga nga-ni-nginy gunyja-ba. 'I spat on the ground.' (HL)
 
see also dagelin, giyuk-ga.
jubungh-nga       
coverb (tr.)
dialect HL, PH
 
to smash
Jubungh-nga ga-bu-n, no-berlberlin-leying garradin, jubungh-nga ga-bu-n mugatj. 'She is smashing up mugatj (yam sp.) with a flat rock.' (PH)
juburin       
nominal
 
water goanna Varanus mitchellii
 
note: Generally found near water, these lizards are sometimes caught on fishing lines. They are cooked in the same way as gunbarrin, the sand goanna.
juk-ga       
coverb (tr.)
dialect PH, LL
 
to feel about
Juk-ga-yan ga-ma-n-wu, bag gahan garradin-gu. 'She's feeling about in the bag for money.' (PH)
juluny-nya       
coverb (intr.)
 
to set (of the sun)
Juluny-nya ga-yu ngurrun. 'The sun is setting.' (HL)
Gahan warren luwi-yan yu-ngiiiiny juluny. 'That kid was crying (all day) until sundown.' (LM)
jumbany       
nominal
   1.
behind
Milijun werrh jumbany nendo yurrup-ba-yan nebe-jan. 'The morning star would come up behind were the horses were standing.' (PH, text)
Danganyin warn bula-jan jumbany gahan ngal-martdiwa. 'That old lady always used to leave the tucker behind.' (LM)
Mani-jewo jumbany-jumbany! 'Follow behind me!' (LM)
Mornen jumbany-jumbany ga-ba-ni-giwu. 'Those two are sitting back to back.' (HL)
   2.
after
Gahan jilimakgun yonggorn-na lagiban jumbany denh-na bu-ni. 'He cut up first the woman and after her the man.' (LM, text)
 
see also la-jumbany.
jun       
nominal
 
small woomera
junbung-nga       
coverb (intr.)
 
to be smoky
Lahan junbung-nga ga-ya. 'The country is smoky.' (PH)
jundakgan       
nominal
 
taipan Oxyranus scutellatus
 
note: The bite of this snake is deadly.
jungutjungut       
nominal
 
tawny frogmouth, also called mopoke Podargus strigoides
 
note: This bird sits on the trunk or branches of trees and is often very difficult to see.
jununyh-nya       
coverb (tr.)
 
to carry with a strap
Dubulutj gahan jununyh-nya ga-ga-n. 'She is carrying a bag with a strap.' (PH)
jup-ba       
coverb (intr.)
   1.
to be closed, shut or blocked; to close, shut or block
Jup-ba nga-yu gidurtdal. 'My nose is blocked.' (PH)
Jup ba-ge-jan Fantinet-leying. 'They used to shut them (the cattle) up at Fantinet.' (PH, text)
Jup-ba ngan-ge-n wurrunyjulin-yi. 'I am hidden, blocked off by the leaves.' (PH)
   2.
to cease, to stop
Bolwon, nyenh-na-yi ngerra-ngana now. Ga-yu jup-ba, jup-ba bu-ji-na. 'The wind has gone quiet for us now. It has ceased, stopped by itself.' (LM)
 
see also dajup-ba.
jupburn-na       
coverb (tr.)
 
to carry under your arm
Ngalma-ngal-martdiwa jupburn-na ga-ba-ga-n lahan. 'The old ladies are carrying the swags under their arms.' (LM)
jurlak       
nominal
 
bird
Jurlak ga-ba-bort-da-n wah-gu. 'The birds are dying for water.' (HL)
 
note: This is a general word for all kinds of birds.
 
see also lardili-yan.
jurlama       
nominal
 
male skin name
jurrak-ga       
coverb (intr.)
   1.
to take fit, to writhe, to thrash about
Gangaman, dap ma-ny nibulin dowk-wuy. Ah jurrak-ga ya-nggi gahan lamang bort yaha-ny. 'He (the eagle) pecked the kangaroo in the eye. It thrashed around and died.' (LM, text)
   2.
to roll about
Jurrak-ga ba-yu-nginy maji-yan. 'They were rolling about playing.' (LM)
jut-da       
coverb (tr.)
   1.
to point
Jut-da ginggu-ra-n. 'He's pointing at us.' (LM)
   2.
to show
Jut many-la gahan goron nganing-gin, maminakbun. 'I'll show you my house. It's nice.' (LM)
jutjju       
nominal
 
navel, belly button
Jutjju buluman nga-gondo-n. 'I've got a big belly button.' (LM)
jutjjut-da       
coverb (tr.)
dialect HL
 
to carry with a strap

Copyright © 1999-2001 AIATSIS, Stephen Wilson. Comments and enquiries to Stephen Wilson <stephenw@ucla.edu>.