Ll

labali       

[ñabali] nominal

   1.

thigh
• Burrh-burr-ma ga-ba-bu-ji-n labali. 'They are slapping thighs.' (PH)

   2.

leg
• No-berlberlin labali ga-ga-n. 'He's got bandy legs.' (HL)

   3.

trousers
• Jorrngh mi-ma gahan labali! 'Wring those trousers out!' (LM)

labartjalhgun       

[ñabaÿïal/gun] nominal
dialect HL

 

grass devil

 

note: Labartjalhgun is a grass devil which lives in the bush. It is small, with skinny legs, a fat stomach and big ears. Whenever someone has a baby and it isn't known who the father is, they say that labartjalhgun is the father.

laberri       

[ñaberi] nominal

 

body hair
• Bert-bert-da ga-ma-ji-n laberri. 'It (the dog) is shaking out its hair.' (LM)

 

see also laberri-warin.

laberri-warin       

[ñaberiwaÓin] nominal

 

hairy
• Laberri-warin ga-ya gahan lagiban. 'That man is really hairy.' (LM)

 

see also laberri, nu-bulbulp-ba.

labingan       

[ñabiNan] nominal

 

baby
• Wakma gondo-yi wayiny labingan. 'She kept the little orphaned baby.' (LM)

labulbul       

[ñabulbul] nominal

 

blood
• Lenyin-yi, ngan-da-yi, labulbul-ma. 'A leech sucked my blood.' (LM)

labulin       

[ñabulin] nominal

 

new
• Mahan soap nga-rega-ndi labulin. 'I brought this new box of soap.' (HL)

labu-ndi       

[ñabundi] infl. verb (tr.)
root -rabu-; past -ndi; ppfv -ng

 

to look for, to search for
• Gay-ba ngi-ya-ngga-jan-guju ngal-martdiwa gahan ngi-rabu-ndi-guju. 'Us two used to go there and look for that old lady.' (LM, text)
• Neywurnh-na bunggu-rabu-ndi. 'He snuck up on them.' (HL, text)

 

see also liwo-, lewa-yan.

laganyan       

[ñagaøan] nominal

 

echidna, also called porcupine Tachyglossus aculeatus

 

note: Echidnas are occasionally found moving around during the day, but they are best hunted in rocky areas at night. Often they sleep in small caves and can be pulled out with a hooked stick. The spines are chopped off with an axe; they can be softened by placing in hot water, and the flesh is lightly roasted and eaten.

lagarra       

[ñagara] nominal

   1.

leg
• Yaway, ginaman ga-yu, gahan lagarra madaru biyakgin nganing-gin. 'Yes, poor thing, my short-legged sister.' (LM)

   2.

shin

lagiban       

[ñagiban] nominal

   1.

man
• Lagiban-gu gayh-ma gu-yu-guju! 'You two are singing out for men!' (LM)

   2.

Aboriginal, Aboriginal man
• Gordal-yi ba-di-jan wahan numinya-nu-minyjan, lagiban-buga wihya. 'The bosses used to drink beer, but the Aboriginal men didn't.' (PH, text)
• Bobby Cadell, Yijenden ga-ya lawar lagiban. 'Bobby Cadell, Yijenden is his Aboriginal name.' (LM, text)

lagibirt-da       

[ñagibiÿda] coverb (tr.)

 

to strangle
• Lagibirt ma-bu! 'I'll strangle him!' (PH)

 

see also jorrp-ba.

lagirdal       

[ñagiêal] nominal
variant lagihrdal (HL)

   1.

back of neck
• Lagirdal gort nga-bu-ng-ma. 'I hit him on the back of the neck.' (LM)

   2.

neck
• Lagirdal bak-ga ba-yu-nginy-guju. 'Their necks were broken.' (LM)

 

see also mangurdal, ngangirdal.

lagiriny       

[ñagiÓiø] nominal
variant lagirriny (HL)

   1.

tail
• Wurnang-wurnang-nga ga-yu lagiriny mahan lamang-garang menuny. 'The dog is wagging its tail, maybe because of the meat.' (LM)

   2.

penis

lagiyi       

[ñagiji] nominal

 

body
• Jilimakgun gurnagun, ga-yu dup-ba-ma. Langan-garang na-ni. Walh yaha-ny lagiyi. 'The woman is fat. She has become fleshy. Her body has grown.' (LM)

lagulin       

[ñagulin] nominal

 

red-eyed pigeon, also called partridge pigeon Geophaps smithii

lagumin       

[ñagumin] nominal

 

cypress pine Callitris intratropica

 

note: The timber is used to make spear shafts. It is also good firewood as it burns quite well even when it is wet, and the pleasant-smelling smoke keeps away mosquitoes. In the past this tree was cut down for building houses. This logging, in conjunction with recent more widespread hotter fires, has led to a significant reduction in numbers of adult pines in Wagiman country.

lahan       

[ña/an] nominal
stem lah-

   1.

country
• Yawey nga-ya-nggi jorro-ma lahan nganing-gin, Guwardagun. 'Yes, I went back to my country, the Daly.' (LM, text)

   2.

camp
• Munybaban, lahan-nehen yu-nginy gahan. Banagan-binyju lahan yu-nginy. 'On that side there were no camps. There were only camps on this side.' (LM, text)

   3.

place
• "Mu-yobe lahan nungarin!" ya-jan ngerreju. '"You lot stay one place!" he used to say to us.' (LM, text)

   4.

swag
• Yowtj-ja nga-ge-na lahan darrp-ba ga-yu wolok. 'I found the swag hanging up high.' (LM, text)

   5.

house
• Bik-ga nga-bu-ni ngonggo-gin lahan. 'I cleaned up your house.' (HL)

laikgi-ma-yi       

[ñaikgimaji] infl. verb (tr.)
root -laikgi-ma-; past -yi

 

to like
• Wihya ngala wuji gi-laikgi-ma-n gahan lahan. Guwardagun-nehen. 'No, we do not like this country. It is not Guwardagun.' (LM)

 

note: This word is a borrowing from English 'like'.

lajadilk       

[ñaïadilk] nominal
variant lajidilk (LL)

 

wet season

lajarrany       

[ñaïaraø] nominal

 

chequered rainbowfish
• Lajarrany ngi-berda-yi gahan-leying Telephone Creek. 'We cooked lajarrany there at Telephone Creek.' (LM, text)

lajil       

[ñaïil] nominal

 

vagina

la-jumbany       

[ñaïumbaø] nominal
dialect HL, PH

 

youngest child

 

see also jumbany.

lala-ma       

[ñalama] coverb (tr.)

 

to rock to sleep
• Lala-ma ga-ga-n, guk ga-rinyi-n gahan warren. 'She is rocking the kid to sleep.' (LM)

lalang       

[ñalaN] nominal

 

girl
• Mahan neyonggorn nganing-gin lalang ga-ya gapbut, Batchelor. 'This other girl of mine is going to Batchelor tomorrow.' (HL, text)

lalat-da       

[ñalatda] coverb (tr.)

 

to share
• Nu-naw-ma lalat-da gi-bu-n-ngana danganyin gahan. 'There is lots of tucker so we'll share it.' (LM)
• Lalat-da mani-nawu! 'Share it with me!' (HL)

lalin¹       

[ñalin] nominal

   1.

white and blue lilies Nymphaea violacea
• Lalin datj-ja ga-bu-n. 'The white lilies are in flower.' (LM)

   2.

tuber of white and blue lilies

 

see also malirawin.

lalin²       

[ñalin] nominal

 

crest on goose

lamang       

[ñamaN] nominal

   1.

animal
• Jahan gahan lamang ngaha-jan borroju wihya nendo mahan... 'What is the animal I've been telling them about? Not the horse...' (LM, text)

   2.

meat
• Watj ba-da-ny gahan lamang. 'They ate all the meat.' (LM, text)

lamarra       

[ñamara] nominal

 

dog
• Lamarra-yi ngan-badi-ya, labali. Nu-minyjan gahan lamarra. 'The dog bit me on the leg. It is cheeky, that dog.' (PH)

lambarra       

[ñambara] nominal

 

father-in-law

lambartdal       

[ñambaÿêal] nominal

   1.

vagina

   2.

swearing
• Yimbama warle-jan lambartdal gahan warren. 'That kid always used to growl bad words.' (LM)

lambu       

[ñambu] nominal

 

cheek

lamelem       

[ñamelem] nominal

 

liver

lamul       

[ñamul] nominal

 

bum
• Jahan-gu lamul-ga ge-ge-n danganyin gahan? 'Why are you sitting (putting your bum) on the tucker?' (LM)

lanbarin       

[ñanbaÓin] nominal

 

strap

la-ndi       

[ñandi] infl. verb (tr.)
root -ra-; past -ndi; ppfv -ng

   1.

to throw
• Gay-giwu bornh-na bunggu-ra-ndi-guju. 'He threw those two in the water.' (LM, text)
• Ngan-la-ndi nendo-yi. 'The horse threw me.' (PH, text)

   2.

to do something usually involving an outward motion (in complex predicates)
• Dil la-ng aaw lawh da-nginy-ma gahan bulikgi. 'She branded it, and it jumped up, that bull.' (LM, text)
• Wakgala jowk nga-ra-ng ngonggo. 'I sent a letter to you.' (PH)
• "Dowh gunggu-ra-ma gahan Japanese" yaha-ny. '"That Japanese soldier might shoot you," he said.' (LM, text)

langan       

[ñaNan] nominal
variant langahan (HL, opt.)

   1.

flesh, meat
• Langan mani-nawu! 'Give me some meat!' (HL)

   2.

calf

langawarin       

[ñaNawaÓin] nominal

 

long-necked turtle Chelodina rugosa
• Langawarin nga-ma-ny. Berdeyh ngi-yama-ny-guju ngal-martdiwa-giwu. Wirriny-wirriny ngi-ra-ng-guju. Na-ni. Dorroh ngi-ma-ny-guju. Gay-gunda, larrp ngi-ma-ny-guju, lamang jamh-ma ngi-ni-nginy-guju gahan langawarin. 'I got a long-necked turtle. Us two old women cooked it. We turned it over. It was cooked. We took it off. And then, we ate the meat of that long-necked turtle.' (LM, text)

 

note: Long-necked turtles can be hunted by swimming in rivers and billabongs and searching for them under the bank during the wet season. When the water dries out, they can be found in the dried mud by looking for the tracks they make when they bury themselves. The area is then poked with a stick or rod until the hunter feels the stick tapping on the hard shell. The turtles are then dug up, cooked and eaten. Often several turtles are found in one hole. Turtles are cooked on hot coals and ashes. They are cooked on their belly first and then turned over onto their back, so that the juices collect in the shell.

langgarnin       

[ñaNga÷in] nominal
stem langgarn-

 

billabong
• Warri-buga bornh-na-yan ga-ba-ya, langgarnin-leying. 'The kids are having a bogey in the billabong.' (PH)

langitj       

[ñaNic] nominal
dialect HL, PH

 

night

 

see also langitj-gun, nguynguy, ngitjjin.

langitj-gun       

[ñaNicgun] nominal

 

a man who goes by night

 

see also langitj.

langornen       

[ñaNo÷en] nominal
dialect HL

 

armpit sweat
• Langornen mok-ga ga-bu-n. 'He has smelly armpits.' (HL)

langu       

[ñaNu] nominal

   1.

turtle shell

   2.

rainbow jaw
note: This is a big shell obtained from the sea, used by men for ceremonial purposes. Women are not allowed to possess them.

lanyungay       

[ñaøuNaj] nominal

 

sick
• Lanyungay-garang nga-ya. 'I'm always sick.' (LM)

 

see also nyongh-nga.

larak-ga¹       

[ñaÓakga] coverb (intr.)

 

to slip and fall
• Larak-ga nga-rinyi-ra-ma, walngarra-ba. 'I slipped and fell of the cliff.' (LM)

larak-ga²       

[ñaÓakga] coverb (intr.)
dialect HL, PH, LL

 

to put a baby into a coolaman
• Larak-ga ga-ba-ge-n lijarri-ba. 'They're putting the baby in a coolaman.' (HL)

lardibulk       

[ñaêibulk] nominal

 

middle child

 

see also bulkgu.

lardili       

[ñaêili] nominal

 

hair
• Gahan ngal-martdiwa lardili ngan-bu-ng-ma denh-na. 'The old lady cut my hair.' (LM)

lardili-yan       

[ñaêilijan] nominal

 

bird

 

note: This is a general word for all kinds of birds.

 

see also jurlak.

lardukgarl       

[ñaêukgañ] nominal

   1.

mother-in-law

   2.

son-in-law or daughter-in-law

larh-ma       

[ñaÓ/ma] coverb (tr.)
dialect HL

 

to block (when fighting with sticks)
• Larh mi-bu-ji! 'Block yourself!' (HL)

lari       

[ñaÓi] nominal

   1.

arm
• Nga-nyar-ma-yi lari mahan nga-bort-da-n-ma darrp-bay-gunda lawel. 'My arms are dead tired from hanging up washing.' (LM)

   2.

creek
• Gahan lari wayi-tjjalbu ga-durdurt-da-n. 'That little creek runs along.' (LM, text)

   3.

root
• Gahan lari-lari-garang wirin gahan, munya ga-yu-ma. 'The tree has lots of roots, down underneath.' (LM)

   4.

shirt

larima       

[ñaÓima] nominal

 

two
• Larima nga-ba-gorndo-n mayh-ba nu-jabutj. 'I have two of my grandchildren here.' (HL, text)

larrang-nga       

[ñaraNNa] coverb (intr.)

 

to be light; to become light
• Niji ya-nggi gapbut-gapbut. Larrang-nga bu-ni ya-nggi. 'Uncle went this morning. When it became daylight, he went.' (LM)
• Larrang-nga ga-di-n mahan ngurrun. 'The sun is shining in here.' (HL)
• Gakgalak galh-ma ga-di-n. Menuny larrang-nga ga-bu-n. 'The moon is coming up. Maybe it will become light.' (LM)

larrh-ma¹       

[ñar/ma] coverb (tr.)

   1.

to scrape
• Nga-rinyi-ra-ma mahan borndedi la-larrh-wuy. 'I fell down and scraped my knees.' (LM)
• Larrh-ma nga-bu-n, knife nganing-gin. 'I'm sharpening my knife.' (PH)

   2.

to scratch

larrh-ma²       

[ñar/ma] coverb (intr.)
dialect PH

 

to be dry
• Larrh-ma nga-yu mangurdal. 'My throat is dry.' (PH)
• Larrh ma-yi lari wayi-tjjalbu. 'The creek dried up.' (PH)

larr-ma       

[ñarma] coverb (intr.)
dialect HL, PH

 

to have indigestion
• Larr-ma nga-yu now bindal. 'I've got indigestion.' (HL)

larrp-ba       

[ñarpba] coverb (ambitr.)
variant larp-ba (HL)

   1.

to crack
• Larrp ngi-ma-ny-guju. 'We cracked it (a turtle shell).' (LM, text)
• Ngaranin mahan larrp-ba-yi-ma. Lihwa-tjjondony ga-ya, menuny nyongh mi-yu-ngana. 'This didgeridoo is cracked. That is no good, maybe we will get sick.' (LM)

   2.

to split, to split in half
• Larp mi-ma! 'Split it in half!' (HL)

   3.

to rip, to tear
• Ngagun-yi ma-ma larp-ba mahan paper. 'I'm going to rip up this paper.' (HL)

 

see also datjjarrk-ga.

larruk-ga       

[ñarukga] coverb (tr.)

   1.

to chew
• Larruk-ga ga-ma-n danganyin. 'He's chewing the tucker.' (HL)

   2.

to gnaw
• Larruk-larruk ga-da gubiji lamarra gahan. 'That dog is gnawing on a bone.' (LM)

larrwa       

[ñarwa] nominal

 

bamboo pipe
• Gahan dabulp-bay-gunda nyongh-nga ga-yu, larrwa-gunda. 'He is sick from smoking a bamboo pipe.' (LM)

larrwak-ga       

[ñarwakga] coverb (tr.)

 

to poke
• Wirin-garang nibulin larrwak ngan-ma-ny. 'He poked me in the eye with a stick.' (LM)

larrweng-nga       

[ñarweNNa] coverb (intr.)

 

to have your eyes open; to open your eyes
• Nibulin larrweng-nga ga-yu, let-da ginggu-nanda-n-ngana. Larrweng-nga, wuji ga-guk-ga-n. 'His eyes are open, and he is watching us. His eyes are open, and he is not asleep.' (LM)

lart-da¹       

[ñaÿda] coverb (intr.)

   1.

to be blocked; to block
• Gidurtdal lart-da nga-yu. 'My nose is blocked.' (LM)
• Gidurtdal lart-da ngan-bu-ni, lart-da ngan-bu-ni, nganku-yi ngeyngey-yi. 'A bad cold has blocked my nose.' (LM)

   2.

to choke
• Lart-da ga-ma-n gahan warren. 'The kid is choking.' (HL)

lart-da²       

[ñaÿda] coverb (tr.)

 

to hit on the head
• Lart-da nga-bu-ni nganku-garang borndedi-garang. 'I hit him on the head with a what's it, with a billycan.' (LM)

laru       

[ñaÓu] nominal
variant lahru (HL, opt.)

 

close, near
• Lahru ga-yu mamin. 'The white man is sitting close.' (HL)
• Jahan-gu laru-laru gi-di-n nganung? 'Why are you always coming up close to me?' (LM)
• Magu-malan gi-ya-ngana. Gahan laru gi-ya-ngana. 'We'll go that way. It's closer.' (LM)

lawar       

[ñawaÓ] nominal

 

name
• Jamba buga-yan mu-ya-guju warri-giwu gahan lawar. Marluga bort-da-yi. 'Don't you two kids call out that name. The old man has died.' (LM)
• Tjirrimbin lahan gahan lawar. 'Tjirrimbin is the name for that country.' (LM, text)
• Ngagun-yi nga-buga-ndi lawar. 'It was me who named him.' (LM)
• Baning-nga lawar ga-ya gahan marluga? 'What is that old man's name?' (LM)

la-watj-ja-wu       

[ñawacïawu] nominal

 

whole lot
• Let manggu-nanda, la-watj-ja-wu. 'I will see you lot tomorrow, the whole lot of you.' (LM)

 

see also watj-ja-wu.

lawel       

[ñawel] nominal

   1.

clothes
• Lawel gahan lem mi-di-ji, lem-ma mi-ra! Mam-yi munyju-nanda-min, lawel-nehen gi-ya wilh-ma! 'Put those clothes on! A white man might see you walking around without any clothes on!' (LM)

   2.

bedclothes
• Darrp-darrp nge-ge-ng-guju wanh ngi-bula-ng lawel. 'Us two hung up the sheets and left them.' (LM, text)

lawh-ma       

[ñaw/ma] coverb (intr.)

 

to get up
• Earlybela lawh ngi-yu-nginy-guju, nga-rabu-ng gawu marluga gahan. 'Early in the morning us two got up, and I looked for the old man.' (LM, text)
• Dilh la-ng aaw lawh da-nginy-ma gahan bulikgi! 'He branded it and up it got, that bull!' (LM, text)
• Lawh mi-da! Jamba guk-ga gi-yu! 'Get up! Don't sleep!' (LM)

lawurl       

[ñawuñ] nominal

   1.

shadow
• Lawurl nganing-gin mahan nga-ya wilh-ma ngurru-ba. 'My shadow is here as I walk in the sun.' (LM)
• Ga-morna-ji-n. Lawurl ga-nanda-ji-n. 'He loves himself. He watches his own shadow.' (LM)

   2.

spirit
• Lawurl bunggu-nanda-yi-guju, yurrup-ba ba-yu-nginy-guju wah-laying. 'He saw the shadows standing in the water.' (LM, text)

lawurt       

[ñawuÿ] nominal

   1.

trace or track
• Lawurt mahan ni-nginy dup-ba. 'Here is a place where someone has camped.' (HL)
• Lawurt gawu ya-nggi wilh-ma. 'There is his track, he has walked there.' (LM)

   2.

clothes which belonged to someone who has died
• Gahan lawurt, wuji mert-da gi-ma-ja gahan, lawurt lawel. 'Don't touch those clothes, because they belonged to someone who has died.' (LM)

laybul       

[ñajbul] nominal

   1.

dreaming

   2.

countryman

   3.

stranger

layiklayi-ma       

[ñajiklajima] coverb (tr.)

 

to tease
• Nubuny maji-yan ya-ngga-jan borroju, ganya-ma. Layi-layi bunggu-ma-jan gahan marluga. 'The boy used to play with them. He used to tease those old men.' (LM)

la-yonggorn-nay       

[ñajoNgo÷naj] nominal

 

first-born child
• La-yonggorn-nay linyi-ra, warren mahan. 'This kid was born first.' (LL)

lega-ndi       

[ñegandi] infl. verb (tr.)
root -rega-; past -ndi; ppfv -ng

 

to bring
• Gawu neyonggorn-yi lega-ndi brand lurt nawo-ng. 'The other grandmother brought the brand and gave it to him.' (LM, text)
• Gahan mu-ba-rega-guju warri-giwu! Mahan guk-ga gu-ba-yu-guju, nganung-ga. 'Bring those two kids! They will sleep here with me.' (LM)

lek-ga       

[ñekga] coverb (intr.)

 

to go down, to descend
• Ngonggo-gin warren lek-ga ya-nggi langarn-ga. 'Your kid went down to the billabong.' (HL)
• Wirin-gunda lek-ga mi-di! 'Come down from the tree!' (PH)

lelerr-ma       

[ñelerma] coverb (intr.)

 

to rustle
• Lelerr-ma ga-yu wakgala gahan. 'The paper money is rustling.' (LM)

lem-ma       

[ñemma] coverb (intr.)

 

to be inside
• Goron-leying lem-ma ga-yu gahan wayi-tjjalbu. 'The little one is inside the house.' (PH)
• Wel-ba lem-ma ba-ya-nggi-guju. 'The two of them went into the hole.' (LM)
• Walanyja durdurt ya-nginy, ngarrmen lem du-ng. 'The goanna ran into the hollow log.' (HL)
• Lega-jan ngerreju lem nge-ge-jan fridge-leying. 'He used to bring it to us and we would put it in the fridge.' (LM, text)

 

see also yurrh-ma.

le-na       

[ñena] infl. verb (tr.)
root -re-; past -na; ppfv -ng; fut vowel can change to a (uncertain)

   1.

to spear
• Marnamnyan nge-re-jan-nyamu. 'We used to spear barramundi too.' (PH, text)

   2.

to shoot
• Marluga-yi le-na-ma shotgun-garang. 'The old man shot it with a shotgun.' (LM, text)

lenyin       

[ñeøin] nominal
stem lenyi-

 

leech
• Yawey lenyin-yi nginggu-badi-jan. 'Yes, leeches used to bite us.' (LM)

lerdongh-nga       

[ñeêoN/Na] coverb (tr.)

 

to blow a didgeridoo
• Ngaranin lerdongh-nga ga-yu-ma yimbama. 'He blows on a didgeridoo all the time.' (LM)

lerrep-ba       

[ñerepba] coverb (intr.)
dialect LM

   1.

to wither

   2.

to dry

lerrk-ga       

[ñerkga] coverb (tr.)
dialect LM

 

to smash
• Bandahan ga-bu-n lerrk-lerrk-ga, wah-gu, wah-leying gu-ge-min. 'She's smashing up cycads, then she'll put them in the water.' (LM)

lerr-ma       

[ñerma] coverb (tr.)

 

to catch up to, to reach
• Gay-gorden ga-ba-ya ngatjbara wilh-ma. Jamba lerr-ma ginggu-ma. 'That lot have walked a long way. We can't catch up to them.' (LM)
• Lerr-ma ngan-ma-ny mahan berlin-ga ga-yu nganung marrinyin mahan. Wal-ma-yi gabarn-na-wu. 'This little girl reaches my shoulder now. She has grown up quickly.' (LM)

lerrplerrp-ba       

[ñerplerpba] coverb (tr.)
dialect HL, LL

 

to clap boomerangs
• Ga-ba-bu-n lerrplerrp-ba boran. 'They are clapping boomerangs.' (HL)

let-da       

[ñetda] coverb (ambitr.)

 

to see, to look at
• Gahan jilimakgun let-da ngan-nanda-ny. 'That woman saw me.' (LM, text)
• Yawey, maman. Mi-ya-min let mi-nanda-ngana gahan crossing. 'Yes, it is good. We will go and look at that crossing.' (LM, text)
• Jahan-gu let-da ga-yu nganung, gahan lagiban? 'Why is that man looking at me?' (LM)

 

see also nanda-yi.

letjletj-ja       

[ñeclecïa] coverb (intr.)
dialect LM

 

to swagger
• Jahan-gu mahan letjletj-ja ga-di-n? 'Why is swaggering up here?' (LM)

 

see also borrongh-nga.

lewa-yan       

[ñewajan] n.f. verb (impfv., intr.)

 

searching, looking around
• Ngi-ya-ngga-jan-ngana, wilh-ma-yan lewa-yan danganyin-gu. 'We used to go walkabout, looking for tucker.' (PH, text)
• Gahan mangiman ya-nggi liwa-yan. 'The policeman came looking around.' (LM, text)

 

see also liwo-, labu-ndi.

libiyin       

[ñibijin] nominal
variant libirin (PH, LL)

 

black nailfish Neosilurus ata

 

see also warrkwarrk.

lihwa       

[ñi/wa] nominal

 

no good, bad
• Mok-ga ga-yu, lihwa. 'It smells bad.' (CM, text)

lihwa-tjjondony       

[ñi/wacïondoø] nominal

 

no good, bad, rubbish
• Mu-ga-ja jorro-ma. Lihwa-tjjondony. 'You lot take them back. They're no good.' (LM, text)

lijarrin       

[ñiïarin] nominal
stem lijarri-

 

coolaman
• Ga-ga-n jutjjut-da lijarrin-ba. 'She's carrying it (the baby) in a coolaman.' (HL)

linmirnin       

[ñinmi÷in] nominal
variant linmirrin (HL)

 

sharp rock
• Linmirnin-yi ngan-le-na martdal. 'A sharp rock stabbed me in the foot.' (LM)

linmulinmu       

[ñinmulinmu] nominal

 

firefly
• Mirnim mirnim mirnim gaa-ma linmulinmu. 'The fireflies are flashing.' (LM)

 

see also gambangay.

linyi-ra       

[ñiøiÓa] infl. verb (intr.)
root -rinyi-; past -ra; ppfv -ng

   1.

to fall
• "Wahan gu-rinyi-min gapbut" yaha-ny ngerreju. '"It will rain tomorrow," she said to us.' (LM, text)
• Bak linyi-ng lari. 'He fell and broke his arm.' (LM)
• Wir-gunda ba-rinyi-ra-guju warri-giwu gahan. 'The two kids fell down from the tree.'

   2.

to be born
• May-ba now linyi-ra, wakma. 'Here now he was born, the orphan.' (LM, text)

 

see also gulp-ba.

liri-ma       

[ñiÓima] coverb (intr.)

 

to swim
• Liri-ma nga-ya-nggi muny-baban. 'I swam to the other side.' (LM)

 

see also bornh-na.

lirrabin       

[ñirabin] nominal

 

red-tailed black cockatoo Calyptorhynchus magnificus

 

note: The flesh is good to eat, however it is hard to spear this bird.

 

see also dirrakdirrak.

lirrh-ma       

[ñir/ma] coverb (intr.)
variant lerrh-ma (HL)

 

to be getting burnt
• Lamang gahan lerrh-ma ga-na-n. Wordow mi-ma! 'That meat is getting burnt. Turn it over!' (HL)

lirrik-ga       

[ñirikga] coverb (tr.)

 

to scratch
• Lirrik-ga nga-ma-ji-n. Jip-jip-ba nga-yu. 'I'm scratching myself. I am itchy.' (PH)

lirriman       

[ñiriman] nominal
variant nirriman (HL, LL)

 

cicada

 

see also nirriman.

lirrng-nga       

[ñirNNa] coverb (tr.)

 

to pinch
• Lirrng mama ga-ba-ma-ji-n-guju, gay-giwu. Nibulin ga-ba-nanda-ji-n-guju. 'Those two are pinching each other. They are sweethearts.' (LL)

lit-bu-ni       

[ñitbuni] infl. verb (tr.)
root -lit-bu-; past -ni; also lit-bu-yan ~ lit-buh-yan (HL) n.f. impfv, lit-bu-yh n.f. pfv

 

to sew, to mend
• Lit-bu-yh mey nganung labali gahan! 'Mend these trousers for me!' (LM)
• Gorro ma-lit-bu ngonggo. 'I'll mend them for you later.' (LM)

liwo-       

[ñiwo] infl. verb (tr.)
root -riwo-; past unknown

 

to look for, to search for
• Mi-riwo-min gahan marluga gapbut? 'Are you going to look for that old man tomorrow?' (LM)

 

see also labu-ndi, lewa-yan.

lolorriying       

[ñolorijiN] nominal

 

saratoga

lolorr-ma       

[ñolorma] coverb (tr.)

 

to drag
• Guda gahan lolorr-ma ga-ga-n lah-leying. 'She is dragging the firewood to the camp.' (LM)

lom-ma       

[ñomma] coverb (intr.)

 

to peel
• Lom-ma nga-ma-yi gakgawurin. 'I peeled the long yam.' (LM)
• Ngurru-yi ngunggu-na-ni-guju-ma warri-giwu. Gumit lom-wuy. 'You two kids have got burnt in the sun. Your skin will peel off.' (LM)

longh-nga       

[ñoN/Na] coverb (tr.)
dialect HL, PH

   1.

to chase
• Longh-nga-yan ga-ba-ga-ji-n, warri-buga. 'The kids are chasing each other around.' (PH)

   2.

to muster
• Borrodop mama ngi-ya-ngga-jan garradin-leying longh-nga-yan bulikgi-wu. 'We used to gallop over rocky ground mustering cattle.' (PH, text)

longon       

[ñoNon] nominal
stem longo- ~ longoh- (HL)

 

cloud
• Longon nu-naw-ma ga-ba-di-n. Ga-dipba-ji-n wahan, wah-gu, gu-rinyi-min. 'Lots of clouds are coming. Rain is building up, it will rain.' (LM)

lorrotj-ja       

[ñorocïa] coverb (ambitr.)

   1.

to sharpen
• Jimirndirr lorrotj-ja mi-bu linmirnin-leying! 'Sharpen the knife on the sharp rock!' (LM)

   2.

to be crossed, to put across
• Lorrotj-ja ga-ba-yu-giwu gahan spoon. 'Those two spoons are crossed one over the other.' (HL)

lort-da       

[ñoÿda] coverb (tr.)

 

to be covered; to cover
• Lort-da ga-yu blanket-yi. 'He is covered with a blanket.' (HL)
• Lort-lort nga-bu-ng nganku-garang blanket-garang. 'I covered him with a what's it, with a blanket.' (LM, text)

 

see also jardup-ba.

luhun       

[ñu/un] nominal
variant lurun (CM)

 

red yam Eriosema chinense

 

note: This small yam is red inside the skin. It can be eaten after lightly roasting.

lu-ni       

[ñuni] infl. verb (intr.)
root -ru-; past -ni

 

to cry
• Warri-giwu-gu ga-ba-ru-n-ma. 'They're crying about the two kids.' (LM, text)

 

see also luwi-yan.

lu-ni bindal       

[ñuni bindal] phrase

 

to be sorry for
• Ga-ru-n bindal. Ginggu-nawu-n-ngana danganyin. 'She is sorry for us. She'll give us tucker.' (LM)

 

note: This is an idiom which literally means 'to cry belly'.

lunyjawa       

[ñuøïawa] nominal
variant lunyjan (HL, PH, LL)

 

salmon gum Eucalyptus bigalerita & tintinans

 

note: The hollow stems and branches of this tree can be used to make didgeridoos. It is also good for firewood.

lurrkguny       

[ñurkguø] nominal

 

valley

lurr-ma       

[ñurma] coverb (intr.)

 

to thunder
• Lurr yaha-ny. Lurr-ma ga-di-n wahan. Wahan gu-rinyi-min ngerra-ngana. 'Thunder struck. A thunderstorm is coming. It's going to rain on us.' (LM)

lurrp-ba       

[ñurpba] coverb (tr.)

   1.

to grab
• Galh-wuy nga-ya-nggi wirin-ma. Rail, dipbart lurrp nga-ma-ny, galh ngaha-ny-ma. 'Then I climbed the fence. I jumped and grabbed the rail, and climbed up.' (LM, text)

   2.

to hug
• Lurrp-ba ga-ba-ma-ji-n-guju warri-giwu. Nibulin ga-ba-ya-giwu. 'Those two kids are hugging one another. They're sweethearts.' (LL)

 

see also dap-ba².

lurrutj-ja       

[ñurucïa] coverb (intr.)

   1.

to walk strong
• Lurrutj-lurrutj ba-ge-ji-na wilh-ma. 'They walked strong.' (LM)

   2.

to be strong
• Ngigun-berreny denh-na mi-bu, lurrutj. 'You're the better one to cut it, because you're strong.' (LM)

lut-da       

[ñutda] coverb (tr.)

 

to give
• Gawu neyonggorn-yi lega-ndi brand lut nawo-ng. 'The other grandmother brought the brand and gave it to him.' (LM, text)

 

see also nawu-ndi.

luwi-yan       

[ñuwijan] n.f. verb (impfv., intr.)
variant luwih-yan (HL)

 

crying
• Ba-ya-nggi luwi-yan gay-gu marluga-giwu. 'They were crying for those two old men.' (LM, text)

 

see also lu-ni.