Nn

nabey-ma-yi       

[÷abejmaji] infl. verb (intr.)
root -nyar-ma-; past -yi; also nabeyh n.f. pfv

 

to be hungry
• Gi-nabey-ma-n. 'We are hungry.' (LM, text)
• Jamh mu-di danganyin warri-buga, gorro menuny nabeyh mu-yama-guju! 'Eat up your tucker, kids, or later you'll get hungry!'

nabijiji       

[÷abiļiļi] nominal
dialect HL

 

eyebrow

nagitj-ja       

[÷agicļa] coverb (tr.)

 

to humbug, annoy, bother
• Nagitj-ja ngan-ma-n mahan warren- yi ma-bu-min getna! 'This kid is humbugging me. I'm going to give him a good hiding!' (LM)

 

see also nu-nagitj.

nalyirri       

[÷aljiri] nominal

 

female skin name

namawu       

[÷amawu] nominal

 

more
• Jamba mu-ya namawu dup-ba mu-yu one place! 'Don't you lot go away any more, you sit down one place!' (LM, text)
• Danganyin namawu mani-nawu jamh-ma! 'Give me more tucker to eat!' (LM)

nambijina       

[÷ambiļina] nominal

 

female skin name

namija       

[÷amiļa] nominal

 

female skin name

namorran       

[÷amoran] nominal
variant namurran (HL)

 

scorpion

nanagu       

[÷anagu] nominal

 

female skin name

nanarrih-ma       

[÷anari/ma] coverb (intr.)

 

to get lost, to get bushed
• Gahan mamin nanarrih-ma ga-ya. 'That white man is lost in the bush.' (HL)

nanda-yi       

[÷andaji] infl. verb (tr.)
root -nanda-; past -yi; ppfv -ny

 

to see, look at, watch
• "Ginggu-nanda-ngana gahan Japanese-ma" ya-jan nganung. '"The Japanese might see us," she said to me.' (LM, text)
• "Mu-nanda-ji" ya-jan ngerreju. "Dowh ngunggu-ra" yaha-ny. '"You lot watch out for yourselves," he said to us. "He might shoot you," he said.' (LM, text)
• Jamba gi-dipba-ngana danganyin mahan berde-yen. Guda, gi-nanda-gardu mangiman. 'We can't cook tucker here. The policeman might see the fire.' (LM, text)
• Nibulin wayi-tjjalbu ginggu-nanda-n-ngana. 'He's looking at us with narrow eyes.' (PH)

 

see also let-da.

nangala       

[÷aNala] nominal

 

female skin name

nangalan       

[÷aNalan] nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL

 

spoonbill Platalea flavipes & regia

 

note: The flesh can be cooked and eaten.

 

see also beretjjin.

nangari       

[÷aNaÓi] nominal

 

female skin name

nangayh-ma       

[÷aNaj/ma] coverb (ambitr.)

 

to wave, to wave at
• Nangayh-nangay-ma nga-yu nung. "Mamak!" ngaha nung. 'I'm waving to him. "Goodbye!" I say to him.' (LM)
• Nangayh-ma ngan-bu-n. 'He's waving at me.' (HL)

nanghnang-nga       

[÷aN/naNNa] coverb (intr.)

 

to hit clapsticks
• Nanghnangh ngi-bu-ng, wangga. 'We hit clapsticks, a corroboree.' (LM)

nangh-nga       

[÷aN/Na] coverb (tr.)

 

to knock down
• Gahan gurruwitj, nangh berrh nga-ngan-la-ng-ma. 'That car, it nearly knocked me over.' (LM)

na-ni¹       

[÷ani] infl. verb (intr.)
variant na-ndi (HL, opt.)
root -na-; past -ni ~ -ndi (HL); ppfv -ng

 

to become
• Buluman now ba-na-ni-guju ba-di-nya jorro-ma. 'They have grown big now and come back.' (LM, text)

na-ni²       

[÷ani] infl. verb (ambitr.)
root -na-; past -ni

   1.

to burn
• Burrngburrng-nga na-ni wahan. 'The water boiled.'
• Bilh-bil-ma mi-bu welek gu-ma, ngarrngarr-ma gu-na-n! 'Fan that fire, and it will blaze up!'
• Wolon gahan ga-na-n. 'The grass is burning'
• Ngurru-yi ngunyju-na-ni gumit. Wirril-ma gi-yu. 'The sun has burnt your skin. It's red.'

   2.

to cook
• Wirriny-wirriny ngi-ra-ng-guju. Na-ni. Dorroh ngi-ma-ny-guju. 'We turned it over. It was cooked. We pulled it off.'

nan-na       

[÷anna] coverb (intr.)

 

to be caught up or hooked up; to catch up or hook up
• Woyoworin narn-na ma-yi ngani-ma. 'The fishing line got hooked up on me.' (LM)
• Nga-nga-rinyi-ng gahan, narn-narn ngan-ma-n-ma garatjjin-yi. 'I nearly fell over, because the grass caught me up.' (LM)
• Nan-na ga-yu motorcar-ba gahan caravan. 'The caravan is hooked onto the car.' (HL)

nap-ba       

[÷apba] coverb (tr.)

   1.

to be sticking to something
• Barnanyin nap-ba ngan-le-n-ma, nap-nap ngan-ma-n lari. 'The honey is sticking to me, sticking to my arm.' (LM)

   2.

to stick together, to join, to attach
• Nge-ge-jan-wu, nap-ba martdal-laying. 'We used to attach (horseshoes) to the horses' feet.' (PH, text)

   3.

to fit
• Mahan maminakpu dress. Nap-ba ngan-ma-n mahan lawel-yi. 'This dress is good. It fits me well.' (HL)

nardal       

[÷aźal] nominal

   1.

hand
• Gahan nardal nyinyi-ma ga-ba-yu-guju. 'They are shaking hands.' (LM)

   2.

finger

   3.

day
• Nardal neyenggun nga-ya-nggi. 'I went the other day.' (LM)
• Nardal larima nungarin, ngi-di-jan jorro-ma. 'After three days, we used to come back.' (LM, text)

   4.

times
• Nardal larima-wu, nga-ya-nggi jorro-jorro. 'I went back twice (two times).' (LM)

narigalin       

[÷aÓigalin] nominal

 

kindling wood
• Guda deworn mi-bu! Narigalin me-ge! 'Make a fire! Put the kindling wood on!' (LM)

narratj-ja       

[÷aracļa] coverb (intr.)

 

to billow up
• Narratj-ja ga-ma-n eh, guda magu ga-na-n lawh-ma. 'The smoke is billowing up, eh, there's a fire burning over there.' (HL)

narrh-ma       

[÷ar/ma] coverb (tr.)

 

to shave
• Narrh nga-ma-ji-na dawu nganing-gin. 'I shaved off my beard.' (LM)
• Dawu narrh-ma nga-ma-ji-n. 'I'm shaving off my whiskers.' (PH)

narrinyh-nya       

[÷arių/ųa] coverb (tr.)

 

to scratch
• Narrinyh-narrinyh nga-ma-ji-n-ma yerryerr-yi ngan-la-n. 'I'm scratching myself because I've got ringworm.' (LM)

narrng-nga       

[÷arNNa] coverb (intr.)

 

to be bogged
• Narrng-nga ga-yu motorcar. 'The car is bogged.' (HL)

nart-da       

[÷a˙da] coverb (intr.)

 

to be ready
• Bitjjirriny nga-bu-ng. Ga-yu, nart-da ngonong-nga. 'I rolled (my swag) up. It's ready to go.' (LM)

natjjin       

[÷acļin] nominal

 

taro Colocasia esculenta

natjjin-nehen       

[÷acļinne/en] nominal

 

strong
• Wuji debet ngi-bu-ng natjjin-nehen. 'You didn't tie it strong.'

nawu-ndi       

[÷awundi] infl. verb (tr.)
root -nawu-; past -ndi; ppfv -ng

 

to give
• Marlarluga gornkorn-na ga-ba-yu, matjjin ga-ba-nawu-ji-n. 'The old men are talking, giving each other stories.' (PH)
• Gayh-gorden-yi ba-nawu-ndi danganyin gahan gay-giwu. 'That mob gave tucker to those two.' (HL)
• Ngany-nawu-ndi danganyin. 'I gave you tucker.' (HL)
• Marluga-yi ngan-nawu-ng gahan marluga. 'My father gave me (in marriage) to that old man.' (LM)
• Gornkorn-na mama nga-nawu-ji-n matjjin. 'I say words to myself all the time.' (PH)

 

see also lut-da.

nawurla       

[÷awuńa] nominal

 

female skin name

nehe-ndi       

[÷e/endi] infl. verb (tr.)
root -ne-; past -ndi; ppfv -ng

   1.

to step on
• Balp-ba nga-nehe-ndi durrin. 'I stepped on a snake.' (HL)

   2.

to do something involving your feet (in complex predicates)
• Britj-ja nga-nehe-ndi. 'I slipped over.' (HL)

 

see also balp-ba.

nendo       

[÷endo] nominal

 

horse Equus caballus
• Jorro-ma warh-ma-yan nendo ba-ya-ngga-jan lek-ga jorro-ma-wa Oolloo-ga. 'They used to ride their horses back down to Oolloo.' (PH, text)

nengh-nga       

[÷eN/Na] coverb (tr.)

   1.

to hit
• Nengh nga-bu-ng borndedi gahan, dorl-dorl nga-bu-ng. 'I hit that billycan, made it resound.' (LM)

   2.

to kill
• Nengh mi-bu-min gahan jilimakgun! 'We'll kill that woman!' (LM, text)

neret-da       

[÷eÓetda] coverb (intr.)

 

to scrape together
• Neret-da ga-ba-ni wir-giwu. 'Two trees are scraping together.' (HL)

nerran       

[÷eran] nominal
variant nehrran (HL)

 

ironwood Erythrophleum chlorostachys
• Train-gu ba-dipba-yi nganku-ma, nerran ba-bu-ni, nerran, railway line. 'They made the railway line out of ironwood sleepers.' (LM)

 

note: The ironwood tree has many uses. The wood is very hard and heavy. It can be used for fence posts, throwing sticks, hook spears and fighting sticks, and it lasts a long time. The gum can be eaten; it is sweet and sticky, like toffee. The leaves can be used as fish poison. After the leaves have placed in a waterhole, the water cannot be drunk until the waterhole has been flushed out by heavy rain. The smoke from burning the green leaves is used in the cleansing stages of funeral ceremonies. Finally, the leaves can also be used medicinally. They are heated on a fire and placed directly against any painful area and held there. This relieves the pain. When the leaves are heated or burnt they make a crackling sound, and the healing power of this tree is linked to the crackling noise as it releases energy.

 

see also galin, wumirr.

newh-ma       

[÷ew/ma] coverb (tr.)

 

to grab
• Duh ga-ba-ra-n-guju. Neyenggun newh ga-ma-n. 'They're kicking (a ball) about. The other one grabs it.' (LM)
• Gayh-yi warreh-yi newh ma-ny nganing-gin garradin durdurt ya-nginy. 'That kid grabbed my money and ran off.' (HL)

neyenggun       

[÷ejeNgun] nominal
variant neyonggorn (HL, LL)

   1.

other
• Baning-nga mu-yama? Neyenggun-a jilimakgun woerrkge-ma gu-ya now! 'What are you lot doing? The other women should be working now.' (LM, text)

   2.

another
• Jahan neyonggorn matjjin maha-hmin? 'What's another story I can tell?' (HL, text)

neywornh-na       

[÷ejwo÷/na] coverb (intr.)
variant niwarnh-na (LL)

 

to sneak up
• Neywornh-na di-nya nguynguy-ma. 'He came sneaking up at night.' (LM, text)
• Neywornh-na bunggu-rabu-ndi, ngerrp ma-ny gahan mamin. 'He snuck up on them, and knifed that white man.' (HL, text)

nibulin       

[÷ibulin] nominal
stem nibul-

   1.

eye
• Wir-yi durrp-ba ngan-bu-ni nibulin. 'The stick poked me in the eye.' (PH)

   2.

face
• Dewh ngaha-ny-ma, nibulin. 'My face went white (in fear).' (LM)

   3.

sweetheart
• Nibulin nganing-gin gahan jilimakgun. 'That woman is my sweetheart.' (PH)

   4.

seed
• Nibulin gahan garratjjin-gunda ga-rinyi-n. 'Seeds are falling from the grass.' (LM)

niburtdan       

[÷ibu˙źan] nominal

 

red-flowered kurrajong, also called wild corn Brachychiton paradoxum & megaphyllus

 

note: The red flowers indicate that freshwater crocodiles are laying their eggs in the sandy banks of rivers. The eggs can be dug up, cooked and eaten. The seeds, which taste similar to sweet corn, are good to eat. The fruit are collected and then lightly burnt on a fire to cook the seeds and remove the itchy hairs, which surround the seeds and cover the fruit. The swollen tap-root of small plants can be dug up and lightly roasted on coals, after which the inner pale flesh is eaten. The stringy outer bark of young plants can be stripped off and made into string or rope.

niganday       

[÷igandaj] nominal

   1.

long
• Gahan yakba, gidurtdal niganday. 'The freshwater crocodile has a long snout.' (TB)

   2.

tall
• Ni-ganda-ganday na-ni. Berlin-ga ga-yu nganung kordal. 'She has grown tall. Her head reaches my shoulder now.' (LM)

 

note: Often reduplicated ni-ganda-ganday.

niji       

[÷iļi] nominal

 

uncle

 

see also niji-mang.

niji-mang       

[÷iļimaN] nominal

 

uncle

 

see also niji.

nimarra       

[÷imara] nominal

 

female skin name

nimbarrguy       

[÷imbarguj] nominal
dialect HL, LL

 

ibis spp. Various taxa

 

note: The flesh can be cooked and eaten.

nimbutj-ja       

[÷imbucļa] coverb (tr.)

 

to hunt away, to chase off
• Warre-buga-yi, liwha ga-boro-n garden. Nibutj-ja mi-ba-bu! 'The kids are messing up the garden. Chase them away!' (HL)

 

see also yinboyh-ma.

nimnim-ma       

[÷imnimma] coverb (tr.)

 

to paint dots
• Nimnim-ma ba-ge-ng barlarin ngonong-nga, burrhburr-may-gu. 'They painted dots on him with white ochre like that for dancing.' (LM)

nimurdal       

[÷imuźal] nominal

 

tooth, teeth
• Nimurdal wunh-na ga-ya gahan, dorroh gu-ya. 'His tooth is aching, maybe it will come out.' (LM)

ni-nginy       

[÷iNių] infl. verb (intr.)
root -ni-; past -nginy; pres -Ų; no distinct ppfv, phab or irr/fut

   1.

to be
• Ba-ni-nginy mayh-ba wajarra nguyhnguy, nu-naw-ma. 'Lots of flying foxes were here in the night.' (HL)
• Yondorrin-leying yurrup-ba nga-ni-nginy. 'I was standing on the road.' (PH)

   2.

to do something while stationary (in complex predicates)
• Jemen-na-wa nga-ni-nginy gornkorn-na ba-ni-nginy-wa. 'I heard them talking.' (PH, text)

ninibing       

[÷inibiN] nominal
variant nini

 

double-barred finch Poephila bichenovii

nirra-mang       

[÷iramaN] nominal

 

father
• Nirra-mang nganing-gin mangiman-yi bunggu-ma-yi. 'A policeman got my father and another man.' (LL, text)
• Nirra-mang mayh-gorden-gu, warri-buga-gu nganing-gin-gu. 'He is the father of this lot, my children.' (HL, text)

 

see also nirrang, ngatjja¹.

nirrang       

[÷iraN] nominal

 

father
• Gahan nirrang nganing-gin gay-gordin, marlarluga. 'Those old men are my fathers.' (LM)

 

see also nirra-mang, ngatjja¹.

no-belenga       

[÷obeleNa] nominal

 

clear, transparent
• No-belenga mahan tea-ma. 'This tea is too weak.' (LM)

no-berlberlin       

[÷obeńbeńin] nominal

   1.

flat
• Gunyjan no-berlberlin me-ge yowtj-ja! 'Find some flat ground (to sleep on)!' (HL)

   2.

bandy-legged
• No-berlberlin labali ga-ga-n. 'He is bandy-legged.' (HL)

no-bordeyk       

[÷oboźejk] nominal

 

pigeon-toed
• No-bordeyk-no-bordeyk ga-ya wilh-ma. Ginmarrin lihwa ma-yi. 'He walks pigeon-toed. His tendons are no good.'

no-bordik-ga       

[÷oboźikga] nominal
variant no-bordek-ga (LL, HL)

   1.

soft

   2.

sticky
• Mahan danganyin no-bordek-ga. 'This tucker is sticky.' (LL)

no-boritj-ja       

[÷oboÓicļa] nominal
variant nu-britj-ja (HL)

 

slippery
• Ngendek gahan lihwa ga-ya, no-boritj-ja. 'That mud is no good. It's slippery.' (LM)

 

see also borotj-ja.

no-borrongh-nga       

[÷oboroN/Na] nominal

 

swaggerer
• No-borrong, wilh-ma ga-ya, let mama ga-nanda-ji-n. 'He's a flash bugger, he swaggers about looking at himself.' (PH)

 

see also borrongh-nga.

no-dew-ma       

[÷oźewma] nominal

 

white
• Bapbu gahan no-dew-ma. 'The Burdekin duck is white.' (LM)

 

see also dew-ma.

no-dong-nga       

[÷oźoNNa] nominal

 

crooked
• No-dong-nga yondorin. 'The road is crooked.' (PH)

 

see also dong-nga¹.

no-gerek-ga       

[÷ogeÓekga] nominal

   1.

blind in one eye
• Nibulin nu-gerek-ga. 'She is half blind.' (LM)

   2.

cross-eyed

nogo       

[÷ogo] nominal
dialect PH, LL

 

heron

no-gobeyhgobey       

[÷ogobej/gobej] nominal

 

liar
• Gahan lagiban no-gobeyhgobey ga-ya. 'That man is a liar.' (LM)

 

see also gobe-na.

no-gorritj-ja       

[÷ogoricļa] nominal
dialect HL, PH

 

nice
• Maman mahan danganyin, no-gorritj-ja. 'This tucker is good, it is nice.' (PH)

 

see also gorritj-ja.

no-gorrng       

[÷ogorN] nominal
variant no-gorng (HL)

   1.

sour
• Gahan yilkgawu lihwa-tjjondony gahan danganyin. No-gorrng-gin ga-ya. 'That tucker is awful. It is really sour.' (LM)

   2.

beer
• Gahan wah-gu-ma nu-minyjan-gu ga-ya no-gorrng-gu wahan. 'He is after beer.' (LM)

 

see also wahan.

nombol-ma       

[÷ombolma] coverb (tr.)
dialect PH

 

to skin
• Gumit, nombol-ma ngi-bu-ni. 'We skinned it.' (PH)

no-mele-ma       

[÷omelema] nominal

 

black

 

see also mele-ma.

no-mojon       

[÷omoļon] nominal

   1.

strange, stranger
• Gahan no-mojon lagiban ga-di-n. 'A stranger is coming up.' (LM)
• Ngi-ya-nggi lahan gahan no-mojon ngi-nanda-yi? 'Did you go and see that strange country?' (LM)

   2.

different
• Ala-yi jowk ngan-la-ng magu, school nga-ya-nggi magu-ma, lahan neyenggun, no-mojon lahan. 'My mother sent me to school in a another, different place.' (LM)

no-moritj-ja       

[÷omoÓicļa] nominal
dialect HL

 

docile

no-mornde-mang       

[÷omo÷źemaN] nominal

 

grandfather (father's father)

 

see also derde.

no-morrol-ma       

[÷omorolma] nominal
dialect PH

 

shame
• Dorrh-ma-ba ba-gondo-yi, nganing-gin borndedi. No-morrol-ma-nehen! 'They've put a hole in my billycan. They've got no shame!' (PH)

 

see also morrol-ma.

nonggega       

[÷oNgega] pronoun
3sg. base

 

he, she, it
• Nonggega ga-bu-ng, ngagun-wu ngan-bu-ni-ma. 'It was him that he should have hit, but he hit me.'

 

note: This word is rare; it is much more common to use gahan or mahan instead.

no-ngolong       

[÷oNoloN] nominal

 

husband

no-nyerrengh-nga       

[÷oųereN/Na] nominal

 

noisy
• Nyenh-na ma-yobe-ja-min. No-nyerrengh-nga mu-ya-ngga-ja ngatjbarra! 'I want to sit down quiet. You noisy lot go far away!' (LM)

 

see also nyerrengh-nga.

nordorrp       

[÷oźorp] nominal
dialect HL, LL

 

kingfisher spp. Various taxa

 

note: This is a general word for all kinds of kingfishers. Kingfishers are mainly seen near water or in forests hunting for insects.

nornh-na       

[÷o÷/na] coverb (intr.)

   1.

to be in a line
• Nornh-na ga-ba-yu. 'They are lined up.' (LM)

   2.

to be together
• Norn-na-wu ba-ya-nggi warri-buga may-gunda. 'The kids went off from here together.' (LM)

 

see also dorrng-nga.

no-roh-ma       

[÷oÓo/ma] nominal

 

light
• Ngagun nga-ya gornkorn-na no-roh-ma. 'Me, I talk light.' (LM)
• No-roh-ma gahan warren. 'That kid is very light.' (HL)

no-wern-na       

[÷owe÷na] nominal

 

troublemaker

 

see also wern-na.

no-wertwert-da       

[÷owe˙we˙da] nominal
dialect HL

 

greedy

 

see also wertwert.

no-wewa       

[÷owewa] nominal

 

thief
• Gahan neyenggun ngal-martdiwa magu ya-nggi woerrkgi-ma no-wewa ga-ya! 'That other old lady who worked over there was a thief!' (LM, text)

 

see also wewa, wewa-yan.

nu-barhbar-in       

[÷ubaÓ/baÓin] nominal
dialect PH

 

blunt
• Knife nganing-gin nu-barhbar-in. 'My knife is blunt.' (PH)

 

see also barhbar-ma-yi.

nu-barhbar-ma       

[÷ubaÓ/baÓma] nominal
dialect HL

 

tired
• Magu jilimakgun, nu-barhbar-ma. 'That woman over there is tired.' (HL)

 

see also barhbar-ma-yi.

nu-barndelk       

[÷uba÷źelk] nominal
variant nu-barndet (PH)

 

bullant
• Nu-barndelk-yi ngan-badi-na. 'A bull ant bit me.' (LL)

nu-bitjji-ma       

[÷ubicļima] nominal

   1.

rolled up
• Marnapbam ga-yu nganung, nu-bitjji-ma-garang, lahan, ma-ya-min. 'My swag is rolled up and ready for me to go.'

   2.

twisted

 

see also bitjirriny-nya.

nu-bulbulp-ba       

[÷ubulbulpba] nominal
variant nu-bulpbulp-ba (HL, PH)

 

hairy
• Nu-bulbulp-ba ga-yu lamarra. 'The dog is hairy.' (LM)

 

see also bulbulp-ba, laberri-warin.

nubuny       

[÷ubuų] nominal

 

young boy
• Mahan wayi-tjjalbu nubuny ga-di-n dangany-garrang! 'Here comes a young boy with food!' (HL)

 

note: A nubuny has not yet been put through the law.

nu-buyp-ba       

[÷ubujpba] nominal

 

smoky-eyed

 

see also buyp-ba.

nu-dardatj-ja       

[÷uźaźacļa] nominal

   1.

tough
• Nu-dardatj-ja gahan lamang. Jamba, gin-badi. 'This beef is tough. We can't bite it.' (LM)

   2.

tight

 

see also dardatj-ja.

nugan       

[÷ugan] nominal

 

little boy
• Gahan nugan wayi-tjjalbu ga-ndi marluga-yi den-nay-gu guda. 'The old man took the little boy to chop wood.' (LM)

nu-gartgart       

[÷uga˙ga˙] nominal

 

laughing person
• Gartgart-da ga-ya yimbama. Nu-gartgart ga-ya. 'He is always laughing. He is a real laugher.'

 

see also gartgart-da.

nu-gidik-ga       

[÷ugidikga] nominal

 

teasing one

 

see also gidik-ga.

nu-gujakgin       

[÷uguļakgin] nominal

 

bitter, sour
• Gay-giwu ga-ba-ya wahan nu-gujakgin ga-ba-da-ma. 'Those two are going along drinking beer.' (LM)
• Danganyin mahan lihwa-tjjondony, nu-gujakgin. 'This tucker is no good. It is bitter.' (LL)

nu-gurk-ga       

[÷uguÓkga] nominal
dialect PH

 

lumpy
• Nu-gurk-ga danganyin. 'The tucker is lumpy.' (PH)

 

see also gurk-ga.

nu-jabing-nga       

[÷uļabiNNa] nominal

 

half-caste
• Ga-di-n warri-giwu-gu-ma nu-jabing-nga-nu-jabing-nga-gu gu-ga-min, muny-baban, Melville Island-ga-ma. 'He's coming for the two half-caste kids. He wants to take them to Melville Island.' (LM, text)

nu-jabirng-nga       

[÷uļabi÷gNa] nominal

   1.

soft
• Nu-jabirng-nga ga-yu. Gitjjiya-ma-gu dowk guu-yarra. 'It (the boil) is soft. Today it will burst.' (PH)

   2.

wrinkled up
• Lihwa-tjjondony mahan danganyin. Nu-jabirng-nga ga-ya. Berrh mu-ra! 'This tucker is no good. It's all wrinkled up. You lot throw it away!' (LM)

 

see also jabirng-nga.

nu-jabutj       

[÷uļabuc] nominal

   1.

grandfather (mother's father)

   2.

grandchild (from a man to his daughter's children)

 

see also jabutj, nu-jabutj-mang.

nu-jabutj-mang       

[÷uļabucmaN] nominal

   1.

grandfather (mother's father)
• Nu-jabutj-mang-garang ga-di-n. 'He's coming up with his grandfather.' (LM)

   2.

grandchild (from a man to his daughter's children)

 

see also jabutj, nu-jabutj.

nu-jagu       

[÷uļagu] nominal

 

left handed
• Ngagun maman nardal, lari, gahan-di nu-jagu ga-ya. 'I am right handed, but he is left handed.' (LM)

nulin       

[÷ulin] nominal

 

grass lily

 

see also nulugurin.

nulugurin       

[÷uluguÓin] nominal

 

grass lily

 

see also nulin.

nu-minyjan       

[÷umiųļan] nominal

   1.

cheeky
• 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)
• Nu-minyjan gi-ya nubuny nyenh-na mi-yobe! 'You're cheeky, little boy. You sit quiet!' (LM)

   2.

dangerous
• Jamba maji-yan gu-ya gawu-leying durrin gawu ga-yu nu-minyjan! 'Don't play there! There's a poisonous snake!' (LM)

   3.

hot like chili

nu-nagitj       

[÷u÷agic] nominal

 

humbugging, annoying, bothersome
• Ngi-warle-na-ngana gahan warri-buga. Nu-nagitj ga-ba-ya. 'We told the kids off. They are annoying.' (LM)

 

see also nagitj-ja.

nu-naw-ma       

[÷u÷awma] nominal

 

lots, big mob
• Ngi-ma-jan nu-naw-ma lamang gahan, marnamnyan, ngi-ma-jan gahan. 'We used to get lots of that game, barramundi. We used to get that.' (LM, text)
• Wolon-leying nu-naw-ma jamh-ma-yan ba-ya-ngga-jan nendo. 'A big mob of horses used to feed on the grass.' (PH, text)

nu-nawuja       

[÷u÷awuļa] nominal

 

heavy
• Lahan mahan nu-nawuja nga-ga-n-ma jununy-nyay-gu. 'This swag is heavy for me to carry.' (LM)

 

see also gu-nawutj-jan.

nung       

[÷uN] pronoun
3sg. dative/oblique

 

to him, to her, to it
• Tea boil-im ba-yama-jan nung. 'They used to boil tea for him.' (HL, text)
• Berrh la-ng nung gori. 'She threw the charcoal to her.' (LM, text)

nu-ngaba       

[÷uNaba] nominal

 

son

 

note: Used by mothers to refer to their sons.

 

see also ngaba, ngal-ngaba.

nungarin       

[÷uNaÓin] nominal
stem nungar-

 

one
• Nungarin whitefella di-nya Burandi-gunda. 'There was a white man who came from Burandi.' (HL, text)
• "Mu-yobe lahan nungarin!" ya-jan ngerreju. '"You sit down one place!" he used to say to us.' (LM, text)

nung-gin       

[÷uNgin] pronoun
3sg. genitive

 

his, hers, its
• Boyh ngaha-ny-ma lawar nung-gin maman. 'I've forgotten his proper name.'

nurdakgan       

[÷uźakgan] nominal

 

brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula
• Nurdakgan wir-laying ga-yu darrp-ba. 'There is a possum up in the tree.' (LL)

 

note: The meat is good to eat. Possums are found in hollow trees and logs.

nu-wapba-mang       

[÷uwapbamaN] nominal

 

brother
• Jahan-gu jert-da ngan-bu-n nu-wapba-mang-yi? 'Why is my brother blocking me off from my family?' (HL)

 

see also baba.

nu-wijam       

[÷uwiļam] nominal

 

ignorant
• Lahan gahan wuji, nu-wijam nga-ya nung gahan lahan. 'I don't know about that country.' (LM)

nu-wirril-ma       

[÷uwirilma] nominal

 

red
• Nu-wirril-ma jarruk birriman. 'The boil is big and red.' (PH)

 

see also wirril-ma.

nu-yawuy       

[÷ujawuj] nominal

 

pregnant

nu-yimimi       

[÷ujimimi] nominal

 

possessive, selfish, a 'dog in the manger'
• Nu-yimimi ga-ya lagiban, jilimakgu-gu gahan. Nu-yiyimimi ga-ya. 'He is possessive of that woman. He's a possessive person.'

 

see also yimimi.