Ww

waduwadu       

[waduwadu] nominal

 

cousin

wagalmiyan       

[wagalmijan] nominal

 

rifle fish

wagiman       

[wagiman] nominal
stem wagima-

 

the language of the Wagiman people
• Wagima-garang yaha-ny nganung. 'She spoke to me in Wagiman.' (LM, text)
• Gornkorn-na nga-ya-nggi Wagiman, wayi-gama. 'I spoke Wagiman when I was a kid.' (LM)

wahan       

[wa/an] nominal
stem wah-

   1.

water
• "Gahan murrkgun berrh many-ba-ra wah-leying" yaha-ny. '"I'll throw the three of you in the water" he said.' (LM, text)
• Gi-dip-ba-n-ngana wahan gu-rinyi-min. 'We'll make it rain.' (LM, text)

   2.

beer
• Gahan mamin yimbama ga-da wahan-ma. 'That white man is always drinking beer.' (LM)

 

see also dagelin.

wajarra       

[waïara] nominal

 

red flying fox Pteropus scapulatus
• Jaley-ma ga-ba-yu wiri-laying wajarra. 'The flying foxes are hanging in the trees.' (LM)

 

note: These flying foxes were hunted with throwing sticks and light spears in the past and are now hunted with shotguns. They can be cooked in a ground oven or just straight on a fire. They have a strong, pleasant fruity smell and after eating flying foxes people smell like this too.

wakban       

[wakban] nominal

 

alone, by yourself
• Gahan jilimakgun bort-da-yi nung-gin wambaru ga-yu wakban marluga. 'His wife died, so now the old man just sits alone.' (LM)
• Wihya ngagun wakban ma-di mahan. 'No, I will eat this myself.' (LM)
• Jahan-gunda ga-ba-nawu-ji-n-giwu matjjin? Wakban-wu gornkorn-na ga-ba-ya-giwu. 'Why are they talking to each other. They're talking by themselves.' (PH)

wakgala       

[wakgala] nominal

   1.

paperbark Melaleuca spp.
note: This term is used for all paperbarks.
• Mabitjbarran ngi-guk-ga-jan, wakgala-garang barh-may-gu, gunyja-ba. Wakgala lort-day-gu. 'In the olden days we used to sleep, using paperbark to make a bed on the ground. The paperbark was for covering us up.' (LM)

   2.

paper, letter, book
• Wakgala jowk nga-ra-ng ngonggo. 'I sent a letter to you.' (PH)

   3.

paper money
• Jamba warri-buga gahan mi-nawu wakgala! 'Don't give the paper money to the kids!' (LM)

wakgawakga       

[wakgawakga] nominal

   1.

orphan
• Wakgawakga ga-ya mahan warren. Ngalagunin-nehen, nirra-mang bort-da-yi ganya. 'This kid is an orphan. He has no mother, and his father died too.' (LM)

   2.

something which nobody wants
• Lihwa bula-ndi shirt lihwa wakgawakga, dorh nga-ma-ny. 'Someone left the shirt because they didn't want it, so I picked it up.' (HL)

 

see also wakma.

wakma       

[wakma] nominal

   1.

orphan

   2.

someone who has lost a close relative
• Wakma ga-ya gahan marluga. Jilimakgun bort-da-yi nung-gin. 'That old man has lost a close relative. His wife died.' (LM)

 

see also wakgawakga.

wakwak       

[wakwak] nominal

 

Torresian crow Corvus orru

walabang       

[walabaN] nominal

 

hunting
• Langawarin-gu walabang ngi-ya-nggi, nu-naw-ma jilimakgun. 'We went hunting for turtles, all of us women.' (LM)
• Maman walabang-gu ga-ya gahan marluga. 'That old man is good at hunting.' (LM)

walaju       

[walaïu] nominal

 

white cockatoo, also called sulphur-crested cockatoo Cacatua galerita

 

see also werrkwerrk.

walala       

[walala] nominal

   1.

womb

   2.

placenta

walalurr       

[walalur] nominal

 

milkwood

walangga       

[walaNga] nominal

 

water chestnut Eleocharis dulcis

 

note: The small tubers can be eaten raw or roasted. They are sweet and tasty and grow in profusion around billabongs and swamps. The tubers are also eaten by magpie geese.

walanyja       

[walaøïa] nominal

 

goanna Varanus panoptes
• Walanyja durdurt ya-nginy, ngarrmen lem du-ng. 'The goanna ran into the hollow log.' (HL)

walbaga       

[walbaga] nominal

 

water buffalo Bubalus bubalis

 

note: This word comes from the English 'wild bugger'.

walbararri       

[walbaÓari] nominal

 

milky way
• Danurrut-da ga-yu walbararri. 'The milky way lies across the sky.' (HL)

wal-ma       

[walma] coverb (intr.)

   1.

to grow
• Warren wayi-tjjalbu yu-nginy-ma gahan lamarra. Buluman na-ni now. Wal-ma-yi. 'That dog was a little baby before. Now it's gotten big. It has grown up.' (LM)
• Mundupban gahan maman. Bora-laying, ga-wal-ma-n. 'Mundupban is good. It grows by the river.' (LM, text)

   2.

to raise
• "Mani-nawu gahan warren! Nugan ma-gundu wal-ma-ra" yaha-ny. '"Give me the kid! I will keep him and raise him," he said.' (LM, text)

walngaran       

[walNaÓan] nominal
stem walngara-

   1.

cliff
• Walngara-ba linyi-ra. 'He fell off the cliff.' (HL)

   2.

riverbank
• Walngara-ba dup-ba-ma gorlondin, walbaga gahan. 'He's in the jungle on the riverbank, that buffalo.' (LM)

walyakgin       

[waljakgin] nominal

 

flash
• Walyakgin ga-ya gahan mamin. Lawel ga-nanda-ji-n. 'That white man thinks he's really flash. He looks at his own clothes.' (LM)

wambaru       

[wambaÓu] particle
variant wambar (HL)

 

just
• Jamba mu-badi-ji-ji-ja-guju! Wambaru mu-yu-guju maji-yan! 'Don't you two bite each other! Just play!' (LM)
• Ngego-guju mayiwa-giwu nge-yobe-jan-guju wambarru. 'My sister and I just used to stay by ourselves.' (LM, text)
• Nga-ya wambarru benybeny nga-ya ma-di jorro-ma gawor. 'I'm just going for a little while. I'll come back this afternoon.' (LM)

wamdal       

[wamdal] nominal

 

chest

wamu       

[wamu] nominal

 

black flying fox Pteropus alecto

 

note: This larger flying fox is hunted and cooked in the same way as wajarra, the red flying fox.

wamuk-ga       

[wamukga] coverb (tr.)

 

to hug
• Gahan wamuk-wamuk-ga ngan-ga-n, gahan wihya, wuji nga-nga-laikge-ma-n gahan. 'She's always hugging me, and that's no good, I don't like it.' (LM)

wangalanggu       

[waNalaNgu] nominal

 

cold night wind

 

see also bolwon.

wangamarin       

[waNamaÓin] nominal
stem wangama-

 

fly
• Wangamarin ga-di-n lem-lem-ma goro-leying. 'Flies are coming into the house.' (LM)

wanganyjarri       

[waNaøïari] nominal

   1.

armpit
• Wanganyjarri-leying diny-nya nga-yu. 'My armpit is itching.' (LL)

   2.

green ants' nest

wangardin       

[waNaêin] nominal

 

yam sp. Vigna sp.

 

note: This long thin yam can be dug up and eaten.

wangga       

[waNga] nominal

 

corroboree
• Wangga, marluga-giwu wangga ba-bu-ji-n-guju. 'The two old men made a wangga corroboree.' (LM)

wanggayh-ma       

[waNgaj/ma] coverb (intr.)

 

to be clear, open (of country)
• Wanggayh-ma ga-yu lahan, ngerreju. 'Our country is clear, open country.' (LM)

wangirrk-ga       

[waNirkga] coverb (intr.)

   1.

to drown
• Wangirrk-ga ya-nggi gahan warren wayi-tjjalbu. 'The little boy drowned.' (LM)

   2.

to sink
• Wangirrk ya-nggi gahan nganku, wenan. Wel-garang, ma-larrp-ba-yin. 'The what's it sank, the canoe. It had holes in it, it was cracked.' (LM)

 

see also ngirrk-ga.

wangu       

[waNu] nominal

 

widow or widower
• Gahan ngal-martdiwa wakma ga-ya. Lagiban bort-da-yi nung-gin. Wangu ga-ya. 'That old woman is bereaved. Her husband has died. She is a widow.' (LM)

wanh-na       

[wan/na] coverb (tr.)

 

to leave
• Darrp-darrp nge-ge-ng-guju wanh ngi-bula-ng lawel. 'We hung out the sheets and left them.' (LM, text)

 

see also bula-ndi.

warabenyin       

[waÓabeøin] nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL
variant garabenyin (LL)

 

banded tree snake, also called milk snake Boiga irregularis

 

note: These snakes are reputed to creep up on women when they are sleeping, and drink the milk from their breasts.

 

see also ngapbunyngapbunyban.

waram       

[waÓam] nominal

 

side
• Dul-ma ga-yu waram-ba. 'He's sleeping on his side.' (LM)

waray-ma       

[waÓajma] coverb (tr.)
dialect HL

 

to pester, to humbug
• Danganyin-gu, waray-ma ganggu-ga-n. 'He's pestering them for tucker.' (HL)

wardan       

[waêan] nominal
variant wahrdan (HL)
stem warda-

 

saltwater crocodile Crocodylus porosus
• Wardan buluman, wurrpbu-leying ga-yu. 'The big saltwater crocodiles live in the salt water.' (LL)

 

note: Saltwater crocodiles can be captured by tying the jaws shut with rope made from kurrajong and tying paperbark over the eyes to quieten them. They are then carried back to camp and killed with an axe. Small to middle sized crocodiles are preferred, as large ones are dangerous and difficult to handle. All parts of the tail, legs, back and internal organs are eaten. The flesh may be roasted on coals or cooked in a ground oven. The eggs can also be collected, cooked and eaten, however this is very dangerous.

wardi       

[waêi] nominal

 

kapok bush, also called wild cotton Cochlospermum fraseri

 

note: The fleshy tap-root can be dug up and eaten. It is quite fibrous and it has to be cooked and pounded first to soften it. Young plants have more tender tap-roots. Yellow flowers on this yam indicate that kangaroos and turtles are fat and it is a good time to hunt them. The wool from the split fruit can be used to dip honey out of sugarbag. It is attached to the end of a stick and poked through cracks and holes into bee hives, then drawn out and the honey sucked off.

wardirrk       

[waêirk] nominal

 

young girl

wardit       

[waêit] nominal

 

damper
• Ngalma-ngal-martdiwa wardit ga-ba-dipba-n. 'The old ladies are making damper.' (LM)

warh-ma       

[waÓ/ma] coverb (intr.)

   1.

to ride
• Ah hey barri-miya warh-ma ga-ma-n mahan nendo? 'Hey, who is riding this horse?' (LM, text)

   2.

to sit astride
• Warh-ma ga-ni wir-ba. 'He's sitting astride a log.' (HL)

   3.

to piggyback
• Warh-ma ga-ga-n nendo-nendo gahan, warren nung-gin, niji-mang-yi. 'Uncle is giving his kid a piggyback.' (LM)

warhwar-ma       

[waÓ/waÓma] coverb (intr.)

 

to fly
• Ngalalak ya-nggi warh-warh-ma. 'The corella flew away.'

warkgany       

[waÓkgaø] nominal

 

clever fellow, killer

warlang       

[wañaN] nominal

   1.

ghost bat Macroderma gigas

   2.

big-eared
• Lamarra gahan warlang. 'That dog has big ears.' (HL)

 

note: Colonies of this bat live in caves and old mine shafts around Pine Creek.

warle-na       

[wañena] infl. verb (tr.)
root -warle-; past -na; fut -Ø ~ -na; also warle-yh n.f. pfv

 

to tell off, to growl
• Ngohgo warreh-buga, nyenh-na mi-ni! Ngal-gawu-mang-yi, warle-yh munggu-ya! 'You kids, be quiet. Your grannie will growl you!' (HL)
• Jahan-gu gi-warle-n yimbama gahan warren wayi-tjjalbu? Mi-bula-ma! 'Why do you tell that kid off all the time? Leave him alone!' (LM)

warnambi       

[wa÷ambi] nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL, LMcM

 

blind snake, legless lizard sp. Ramphotyphlops spp.

warnanggal       

[wa÷aNgal] nominal

   1.

witch doctor, clever fellow
• Warnanggal-yi buga-ndi-ma, nyongh-nga ga-yu now, buga-ndi-ma, yarrindi-yi. 'The witch doctor sang him and now he is sick.'

   2.

doctor
• Warnanggal ngan-nga-ndi, wolwol liwa nga-ya. Nyongh-nga nga-yu. 'The doctor listened to my bad heart. I'm sick.'

   3.

clever

 

see also barrakbarrak.

warnbarra       

[wa÷bara] nominal

 

cherabin Macrobrachium rosenbergii
• Warnbarra ngi-ma-jan langganin gahan, Bumji ga-yu, Oolloo-leying. 'We used to get cherabin at Bumji, at Oolloo station.' (LM)

warnbik       

[wa÷bik] nominal

 

four corner fruit Cynanchum pedunculatum

 

note: The fruit can be eaten. It is best to eat before it gets to full size, because it is more tender then. If the fruit is too hard, it can be softened by lightly roasting on a fire.

warnwarn       

[wa÷wa÷] nominal

 

lying down
• Warnwarn mi-yu gay-ba! 'Lie down there!' (LM)

warragan       

[waragan] nominal

 

ground sugarbag

warrak       

[warak] nominal
dialect HL, LL, GH

 

catfish Hexanematichthys leptaspis

 

see also jalunggin.

warral-ma       

[waralma] coverb (intr.)

 

to go bush
• Warral-ma ya-nginy menuny ga-ndi danganyin. 'He's run away into the bush, maybe because he stole some tucker.' (HL)

warratj-ja       

[waracïa] coverb (intr.)

 

to dance (of women)
• "Jahan-gu warratj-ja gi-ya?" ba-yama-ny nung. '"Why are you dancing?" they asked her.' (LM, text)

warren       

[waren] nominal
variant wahrren (HL, opt.)
stem warri- ~ warreh- (HL)

 

child
• Warren mahan ma-bula-min gay-ubawo, school-gu gu-ya. 'I will leave this kid there, and she will go to school.' (LM, text)
• Warri-buga ba-di-nya. 'The children came.' (LM, text)

warrik-ga       

[warikga] coverb (tr.)

 

to take away from
• Jimirndirr warrik mehe warren! 'Take the knife off the kid!' (HL)

warritjjin       

[waricïin] nominal

 

sweat, perspiration
• Warritjjin ngan-bu-n. 'I'm sweating.' (LM)

warrkwarrk       

[warkwark] nominal
dialect LMcM

 

black nailfish Neosilurus ata

 

see also libiyin.

warr-ma       

[warma] coverb (tr.)

 

to be too big
• Warr-ma ngan-ma-n lawel mahan. 'This dress is too big for me.' (LM)

warrp-ba       

[warpba] coverb (intr.)

 

to be in a big mob
• Nu-naw-ma warrp-ba ga-ba-yu, lah-laying. 'Lots of them are sitting down at camp in a big mob.' (LL)

waruk       

[waÓuk] nominal

 

hawk sp.

watj-ja       

[wacïa] coverb (intr.)

 

to finish
• Worrok-worrok ngi-yu-nginy-gujuuuu larrang. Larrang-nga ya-nggi now watj-ja ngi-ma-ny. 'Us two washed and washed until daybreak. At daybreak we finished.' (LM, text)
• Queensland, ba-ya-nggi school, gay-giwu warri-giwu. Watj, jorro ba-di-nginy-guju. 'Those two kids went to school in Queensland. When they finished, they came back.' (LM, text)

 

see also watj-ja-wu.

watj-ja-wu       

[wacïawu] nominal

 

all, completely
• "Lamang ngu-da-yi-ma langawarin?" "Yawey!" Ngi-da-yi watj-ja-wu! '"Have you lot eaten the turtle?" "Yes!" We ate it all up!' (LM, text)
• Watj-ja-wu ga-ba-yu no-dew-ma gumit. 'They have all (your whole family) got really white skin.' (HL)
• Dorroh-dorroh ngi-ma-ny now garatjjin, watj-ja-wu. Dabali-ma ngi-ya-ngga-jan watj-ja-wu. 'We pulled out the grass, the whole lot. We went all around.' (LM, text)
• Aeroplane nung-gin bak-bak-ga-yi watj-ja-wu. 'His aeroplane was completely broken up.' (LM, text)

 

see also watj-ja, la-watj-ja-wu.

watjjorrng-nga       

[wacïorNNa] coverb (tr.)

 

to waste
• Watjjorrng ngi-bu-ni danganyin ngonggo-gin. 'You've wasted your tucker.' (LL)

 

see also bang-nga.

wayibin       

[wajibin] nominal
variants weyibin (HL), wayiben (LL)

 

northern quoll, also called native cat Dasyurus hallucatus

 

see also galambu.

wayigun       

[wajigun] nominal
variant weyigun (HL)

 

hairbelt

waying       

[wajiN] nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL

 

snake sp.

wayi-tjjalbu       

[wajicïalbu] nominal

 

small
• Lihwa-tjjondony mahan lamang wayi-tjjalbu. 'These small animals are no good.' (LM, text)

 

see also weyiny, weyehweye.

weh-ma       

[we/ma] coverb (intr.)

 

to vomit
• Ga-yu weh-ma ngonggo-gin warren. 'Your kid is vomiting.' (HL)
• Ngonggo-gin wayi-tjjalbu-yi weh ngan-yahany, lari-leying. 'Your baby has vomited on my arm.' (LL)

wek-ga       

[wekga] coverb (tr.)

 

to swallow
• Wutjbin-yi wek-ga nga-ra-ndi. Da-buluman wek-wek nga-ra-ng. 'Greedily I swallowed it down. I swallowed a very big piece.' (LM)

welek-ga       

[welekga] coverb (intr.)

 

to be light
• Wilh-ma ga-ya dangak-ga gahan gakgalak-gu-ma. Welek-ga ga-yu. 'He is walking along looking up at the moon. It is shining.'
• Ngaralin welek mama ga-di-n. Menuny wahan gu-rinyi birriman. 'Lightning is coming, making it light. Maybe there will be a big storm.'
• Bilbil-ma mi-bu welek gu-ma. 'Blow on it (the fire) and it will light up.'

weletjban       

[welecban] nominal
dialect HL

 

red-winged parrot Aprosmictus erythropterus

welin       

[welin] nominal
stem wel-

   1.

hole
• Jahan-gu gurrh-ma gu-ma-n gahan welin? 'Why are you lot digging that hole?' (PH)

   2.

cave
• Welin-leying lem ngi-yebe-jan guk. 'We used to sleep in caves.' (LL, text)

wel-ma       

[welma] coverb (intr.)

   1.

to spread out
• Wel nga-bu-ng gahan lahan. 'I spread out the swag.'
• Barrakbarrak wel-ma ga-yu. 'The diver duck is spreading its wings.'

   2.

to take off
• Beworn ya-nggi wel-ma garra-gunda, dipbart-dipbart-da ya-nggi. 'The rock wallaby took off from the rock, and jumped away.'

wenan       

[wenan] nominal

 

canoe
• Wenan gahan-ma, wangirrk-ga ya-nggi. 'The canoe sank.' (LM)

weng-nga       

[weNNa] coverb (intr.)

   1.

to be open
• Gahan ngal-door weng-nga ga-yu. 'The door is open.'
• Jup-ba ga-yu. Weng mi-ma ngerre-ngana! 'It's shut. Open it for us!'

   2.

to be empty
• Goron mahan weng-nga ga-yu. Nu-naw-ma watj-ja ba-ya-nggi. Goron-binyju ga-yu weng-nga. 'This house is empty. Everyone has gone. There's only an empty house.'
• Weng-nga ga-yu welin mayh-ba. 'There's a hole here.' (HL)

wenyan       

[weøan] nominal

 

floodwater
• Wenyan gi-boro-n wahan. Wenyan ga-ya gahan tap now. Ngi-bula-ndi durdurt-da wahan. 'You've made a flood of water. Water is flooding from the tap. You left the water running.' (HL)

wern-na       

[we÷na] coverb (intr.)

 

to make trouble

 

see also no-wern-na.

werretjjanyin       

[werecïaøin] nominal
variant werretjjenyin (HL, PH)

 

red-collared lorikeet Trichoglossus haemotodus
• "Weletj weletj" ga-yu gayh-ma. '"Weletj weletj" it sings out.' (HL)

 

see also werretjwerretj.

werretjwerretj       

[werecwerec] nominal
variant weletjweletj (HL)

 

red-collared lorikeet Trichoglossus haemotodus

 

see also werretjjanyin.

werriny-bu-ni       

[weriøbuni] infl. verb (tr.)
variant werriny-bu-ndi (HL, opt.)
root -werriny-bu-; past -ni ~ -ndi; also werriny-bu-yh n.f. pfv

 

to sing
• Ga-werriny-bu-n-yarra wahan ga-rega-n. 'She is singing to bring the rain.' (LM)
• Ba-werriny-bu-ni gahan ngal-martdiwa, yarrindi-garang, bort yany now. 'They sang the old lady with a yarrindi song, and she died.' (LM)
• Ngal-martdiwa gahan Bilmarray-ma, nganku wahan werriny-bu-yh ya-jan. 'That old woman Bilmarray used to sing the rain.' (LM, text)

 

see also werrinyin.

werrinyin       

[weriøin] nominal

 

corroboree
• Werrinyin ba-bu-jan mahan, Oenpelli mob. 'They used to make a corroboree here, the Oenpelli mob.' (LM, text)

 

see also werriny-bu-ni.

werrkwerrk       

[werkwerk] nominal

 

white cockatoo, also called sulphur-crested cockatoo Cacatua galerita

 

see also walaju.

werr-ma       

[werma] coverb (intr.)

   1.

to come out, to emerge
• Nu-naw-ma Wagima-garang, gawor-nyamu werr ba-di-jan. 'Lots of Wagiman people used to come out in the afternoon.' (PH, text)
• Ngurrun ga-di-n werr-ma. 'The sun is coming out.' (LM, text)
• Boyh ngi-ya-ngga-jan wilh-ma magu, Douglas, werr. 'We used to set off walkabout, come out at Douglas Station.' (LM, text)
• "Jamba gu-ya-guju werr-ma!" yaha-ny. '"Don't you two go outside!" he said.' (LM, text)

   2.

to appear
• Ngaba nganing-gin ga-di-n mahan. Barri-ba-gunda werr-ma di-nya? 'My son is coming up here. Where has he appeared from?' (LM)

wert-da       

[weÿda] coverb (intr.)

 

to look back
• Wert nga-yu-nginy nga-nanda-yi gay-giwu ba-ya-nggi-guju. 'I looked back and saw those two going along.'

wertwert       

[weÿweÿ] nominal

 

greedy
• Wertwert ga-ya gahan ngal-martdiwa. Wuji gunggu-nawu-ja danganyin gahan ngal-martdiwa. 'That old lady is greedy. She won't give you tucker, that old lady.' (LM)

 

see also no-wertwert-da.

wewa       

[wewa] nominal

 

stealing, thieving
• Wewa-yi ma-yi danganyin nganing-gin may-gunda. 'He stole my tucker from here.' (LM)
• Wewa ngi-ma-yi garradin nganing-gin. 'You've stolen my money.' (PH)

 

see also no-wewa, wewa-yan.

wewa-yan       

[wewajan] n.f. verb (impfv., intr.)

 

stealing

 

see also wewa, no-wewa.

weyehweye       

[weje/weje] nominal

 

very small
• Lamarra-yi buga-ndi weyehweye lamarra. 'The dog gave birth to the little puppies.' (HL)

 

see also weyiny, wayi-tjjalbu.

weyh-ma       

[wej/ma] coverb (tr.)

 

to lift
• Weyh mi-ma nganung gahan garradin! 'Lift the rock up for me!' (PH)

weyiny       

[wejiø] nominal

 

small
• Pamngurlu weyiny gokgo. 'Pamngurlu was still small.' (LM)

 

see also wayi-tjjalbu, weyehweye.

weypbun       

[wejpbun] nominal
variant wepbun (HL)

 

mussel

wibin       

[wibin] nominal
stem wibi-

 

newly burnt grass
• Dil-ma ba-ra-ndi. Wibin ga-yu lahan. 'They set it on fire. Now the grass is burnt.'

 

see also bindirin².

wihya       

[wi/ja] interjection

   1.

no
• Gurruwitj gahan lihwa ma-yi. Town-ga gu-ya-nggi wihya, gu-yu dup-ba lah-leying. 'The car was no good. You lot wanted to go to town, but no, you have to stay in camp.' (LM)
• "Mi-bula mayh-leying" yaha-ny. "Wihya-ngala nibulin ga-ya nganung ma-ga-min" yaha-ny. '"You leave her here," he said. "No, she is my girlfriend and I'm going to take her" he said.' (LM)
• Wihya jamba gi-bu gahan marluga! 'No, you cannot shoot the old man!' (LM, text)

   2.

nothing
• Ngi-ya-ngga-jan gorr-ma jorro, but gitjjiya-di wihya. 'We used to go fishing and come back, but now, nothing.' (LM, text)

wik-ga¹       

[wikga] coverb (intr.)

 

to have a tickle in your throat
• Wik-ga nga-ni, mangurdal. 'I've got a tickle in my throat.'

wik-ga²       

[wikga] coverb (tr.)
dialect HL, PH
variant wilk-ga (PH)

 

to sip
• Mani-nawu wik ma-ma ngonggo tea! 'Give me a sip of your tea!' (HL)

wik-ga³       

[wikga] coverb (intr.)

 

to wriggle
• Wik-ga-wik-ga ga-yu warren wayi-tjjalbu. Ma-gondo gokgo ngapbuny ma-nawu. 'The baby is wriggling. I'll hold him and give him milk.' (LM)

wilh-ma       

[wil/ma] coverb (intr.)

   1.

to walk
• Wilh-ma ga-ya dangak-ga gahan gakgalak-gu-ma. 'He is walking along looking up at the moon.' (LM)
• Gumurrinyji-yi, nu-naw-ma lamarra ganggu-ga-n wilh-ma. 'Emu is taking all his dogs for a walk.' (PH)

   2.

to go
• Magu ya-nggi town-ga wilh-ma. 'He went to town.' (LM)

   3.

to go walkabout
• Guwardagun-leying wilh-ma ngi-ya-ngga-jan. 'We used to go walkabout in the Daly River country.' (LL, text)
• Durrin werr-ma ya-nggi gay-gunda welin magu ga-ya wilh-ma. Walabang ga-ya. 'The snake has come out from its hole and it's going walkabout. It's going hunting.' (LM)

wilikwilik       

[wilikwilik] nominal

 

galah Cacatua roseicapilla

wilit       

[wilit] nominal
dialect HL, PH

 

tree spp. Wrightia pubescens & saligna

 

note: The pale light timber is strong and can be used to make small spears.

wilitjwilitj-ja       

[wilicwilicïa] coverb (tr.)

 

to stir
• Tea gahan wilitjwilitj mi-bu! 'Stir the tea!' (LM)

 

see also gulitj-ja.

wilmurr       

[wilmur] nominal

 

wire spear
• Wilmurr-garang, ma-re-ja gahan majalin. 'I'll spear the fish with a wire spear.' (PH)

 

see also wilmurr-garang.

wilmurr-garang       

[wilmurgaÓaN] nominal

 

cow
• Larima larima ya-ngga-jan nganku wilmurr-garang. 'Two by two they used to walk up, the what's its, the cows.' (LM)

 

note: Wilmurr is the word for a wire spear, and wilmurr-garang is used because the horns of cattle are like spears.

 

see also wilmurr.

winduk       

[winduk] nominal
dialect HL

 

bush stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius

 

see also guwerek.

winini       

[winini] nominal
dialect HL

 

white-throated honeyeater Melithreptus albogularis

 

note: This bird sings out when people are approaching. It is considered a nuisance because it often warns prey of the approach of hunters.

wirin       

[wiÓin] nominal
stem wir- ~ wiri-

 

tree
• Wirin-gunda lek-ga mi-di! 'Come down from that tree!' (PH)

 

note: This is the general word for any kind of tree.

wirnh-na       

[wi÷/na] coverb (intr.)

 

to whistle
• Wirnh-na ga-ya gahan warren wayi-tjjalbu. 'That kid is whistling.' (LM)
• Gahan lagiban wirnh-wirn-nay-garang ga-di-n. 'That whistling boy is coming up.' (LM)

wirrh-ma¹       

[wir/ma] coverb (tr.)

   1.

to hit with a stick
• Wirrh-ma gu-ba-bu-min. 'They will kill them with a stick'

   2.

to demolish
• Gahan goron mabitjbarran-gunda ngerreju wirrh-ma ba-bu-ng. 'They demolished our old house.'

wirril-ma       

[wirilma] coverb (intr.)

 

to be red
• Nibulin mahan wirril ngi-yama-jan. 'Our eyes used to go red (from swimming in Douglas Hot Springs).' (LM, text)

 

see also nu-wirril-ma.

wirriny-nya       

[wiriøøa] coverb (intr.)

   1.

to go around, to turn around
• Gay-gunda gordal wirriny-nya nga-ya-nggi. 'From that (a bad fall) my head was spinning.' (PH, text)
• Gordal liwa-tjjondony. Gongorrk wirriny mama ga-ya. 'He is no good in the head. His brains go round and round.'

   2.

to turn over
• Wirriny-h yaha-ny labingan gahan bunjubup linyi-ng. 'The baby turned over onto its belly.'
• Wirriny-wirriny ngi-ra-ng-guju. 'We turned it (a turtle) over.'

   3.

to toss and turn
• Wirriny-wirriny nga-guk-ga-yi. 'I was tossing and turning in my sleep.'

   4.

to change
• Gahan lahan yimbama wirriny-wirriny ga-ra-ji-n. 'The country is always changing.'

 

see also wordow-ma.

wirritwirrit       

[wiritwirit] nominal

 

rainbow bee eater Merops ornatus

 

note: This bird eats small insects and bees and is often seen around water swooping for insects.

wirrp-ba       

[wirpba] coverb (tr.)
variant wirrk-ga (PH)

   1.

to wipe
• Danganyin ge-gondo-n, damorom-ba. Mi-ya-ngga, wirrp mi-bu! 'You've got food on your face. Go and wipe it off!' (HL)

   2.

to rub
• Wirrp-ba ngan-bu-n, gurnagun-yi mornen. 'She's rubbing my back with fat.' (HL)

   3.

to roll up
• Wolo-yi ga-ba-ma-n now wirrp-ba. 'They roll it up (sand palm) with grass.' (HL, text)

wirtwirt-da       

[wiÿwiÿda] coverb (tr.)
dialect HL, PH

 

to whistle (of the wind, through grass or trees)
• Wirtwirt-da ga-bu-n wolon. 'The grass is whistling (in the wind).' (PH)

witjjirrin       

[wicïirin] nominal

 

quinine tree Petalostigma pubescens & quadriloculare

 

note: Emus eat the fruit of this tree, which are bitter and are not eaten by people. Petalostigma pubescens grows in thickets on hill sides whereas Petalostigma quadriloculare is a small plant which grows in rocky areas.

woerrkge-ma       

[woerkgema] coverb (intr.)

 

to work
• "Jamba nga-nga-yu woerrkge-ma ngorroju!" yaha-ny. '"I won't stay here to work for you mob!" she said.' (LM)

 

note: This is a borrowing from the English 'work'.

wojolong       

[woïoloN] nominal
variant woyolong (PH)

 

red-tailed black whip snake

wojorrk-ga       

[woïorkga] coverb (intr.)
variant wujurrk-ga (HL)

 

to be loose
• Nimurdal wujurrk-ga ga-yu. 'His tooth is loose.' (LM)

wolborin       

[wolboÓin] nominal

 

myrtlewood Lophostemon lactifluus

 

note: The tree has papery bark like a melaleuca. It provides a cool dense shade.

wolngh-nga       

[wolN/Na] coverb (intr.)

   1.

to be hanging
• Wolngh-wolng-nga ga-yu gahan, jahan wirin-ma? 'What's that hanging up in the tree?' (LM)

   2.

to be tied up
• Lamarra ga-yu wolngh-nga now. 'The dog is tied up now.' (HL)

wolok       

[wolok] nominal

   1.

high
• Darrp me-ge wolok lamarra-gunda! 'Put it up high so the dogs won't get it!' (HL)

   2.

top

   3.

high country
• Galh-ma-yan ba-ya-ngga-jan danganyin ga-ya wolok. 'They used to climb up because there is tucker in the high country.' (PH, text)

wolon       

[wolon] nominal
stem wolo-

 

grass
• 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)

 

note: This is the general word for any kind of grass.

wolwol       

[wolwol] nominal

   1.

heart
• Wolwol dipbart-dipbart ga-ya nganung. 'My heart is beating rapidly.'
• Gahan neyenggun marluga wolwol maman ga-ya, lut-day-gu. 'That other old man is soft-hearted for giving.'

   2.

viscera
• Jerrkjerrk nga-gondo-n. Wolwol lihwa nga-ya. 'I've got diarrhoea. My innards are no good.'

wombern-na       

[wombe÷na] coverb (intr.)
dialect HL, PH

 

to make a constant sound
• Nga-nga-n wombern-na ga-yu barri barnanyin? 'I can hear a sound (i.e.. the sound of bees), where is the sugarbag?' (HL)

wongh-nga       

[woN/Na] coverb (intr.)

 

to miss your country
• Wongh-nga nga-yu nganing-gin-gu lah-gu. 'I am missing my country.' (HL)

wordow-ma       

[woêowma] coverb (tr.)
dialect HL

   1.

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

   2.

to turn into a dreaming
• Ngalalak jilimakgun ba-ya-ngga-jan, wordow ma-ji-ng, ngalalak-ga. 'The corella used to be a woman, but it turned into a bird.' (HL)

   3.

to be lumpy

 

see also wirriny-nya.

wornang-nga       

[wo÷aNNa] coverb (intr.)
variants wurnang-nga (HL), wornong-nga (LL)

 

to wag your tail
• Wornang-wornang ga-yu, lamarra gahan, lagiriny nung-gin. 'That dog is wagging its tail.' (LM)

wornka       

[wo÷ka] nominal

   1.

missing something
• Yawey wornka nga-yu lahan nganing-gin-gu. Ginaman. Nga-bula-ndi lahan nganing-gin. 'Yes, I am missing my country. Poor thing. I've left my country.'
• Ngagun nga-yu wornka-wornka, bakga-nehen. 'Me, I'm sitting down with no tobacco.'

   2.

alone
• Gay-giwu ga-ba-yu-guju wornka, baba-ya. 'Those two brothers are sitting down alone.'

   3.

lonely
• Ga-yu wornka-ma gahan lahan. Garradin-garradin-garang. Wut-da ngi-ma-ny-guju. 'It's lonely, that country. Very very rocky. We didn't like it.'

   4.

deserted
• Wutj-wuy ba-ya-nggi. Wo-wornka ga-yu gahan lahan. 'They've all gone. The camp is deserted.'

worr-ma       

[worma] coverb (intr.)

 

to be fast asleep
• Worr yaha-ny, wuji ga-nga-ja. 'He has fallen fast asleep, and he can't hear us.' (LM)

 

see also guk-ga.

worrobobo       

[worobobo] nominal
variant wurrupbubu (HL, LM, LL)

 

hot
• Worrobobo ga-yu gunyjan. Martdal ginggu-berda-n-ngana. 'The ground is hot. It is burning our feet.' (LM)

worrok-ga       

[worokga] coverb (tr.)
variant worok-ga (HL)

   1.

to wash
• Laundry now gi-ya-ngana worrok-gay-ga. 'To the laundry now we go for washing.' (LM, text)
• Worrok-gay-gu ga-yu gahan gijalkgin. 'Limestone is for washing clothes.'
• Worrok-ga bu-ni lawel. 'She washed the clothes.' (LM, text)

   2.

to sluice
• Gahan marluga whitefella ya-nginy worok-worok ni-nginy, gold, worok-ga, ma-yi, gunyjan. 'That old white man went panning for gold.' (HL)

worronggonyin       

[woroNgoøin] nominal

 

green ant

wortngong       

[woÿNoN] nominal
variant wortngowortngong, wortguwortgu (PH)

 

large frog sp.

 

see also ngalbingay.

wowotj       

[wowoc] nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL

 

rock possum

woyh-ma       

[woj/ma] coverb (intr.)

 

to be angry, wild
• Woyh yaha-ny ngerra-ngana. 'He got wild at us.'

woyoworrin       

[wojoworin] nominal
variant wuyuwurrin (HL)

 

fishing line
• Ngalma-ngal-martdiwa durdurt-duy ba-ya-nggi wanh ba-bula-jan, woyoworrin, yawey! 'The old ladies ran away leaving behind all their fishing lines, yes!' (LM, text)
• Narn-na bu-ni nganung wuyuwurin. 'My fishing line got hooked up.'

wuhwuh-ma       

[wu/wu/ma] coverb (intr.)

 

to be hot
• Goron-leying wuhwuh-ma ga-yu. 'It's hot in the house.'
• Danganyin gahan gujirritj. Wuhwuh-ma me-berda! 'The tucker is cold. Warm it up!'

wuji       

[wuïi] particle

 

not
• Wuji nga-nga-bu-ndi warren. 'I didn't hit the kid.' (HL)
• Wuji debet ngi-bu-ng natjjinen. 'You didn't tighten it strongly'

wulman       

[wulman] nominal
dialect LL

 

sugar glider Petaurus breviceps

 

note: The flesh can be cooked and eaten, although sugar gliders are quite small. They eat flowers and nectar and are generally seen high up in trees.

wumarn       

[wuma÷] nominal
variant womarn (LL)

 

casuarina Dolichandrone filiformis

wumbirrh-ma       

[wumbir/ma] coverb (intr.)

 

to make a noise
• Wumbirrh-wumbirr-ma ga-ya pigi-pigi-buga. 'The pigs are making a noise.'

wumirr       

[wumir] nominal

 

ironwood wax

 

see also galin, nerran.

wumurdalyin       

[wumuêaljin] nominal

 

dragonfly

wunggurr       

[wuNgur] nominal
variant wuburr (PH, opt.)

 

dust

wunh-na¹       

[wun/na] coverb (tr.)

 

to carry
• Wunh-na ba-ga-jan ba-rega-ndi berr ba-ra-ng. 'They used to carry it (firewood), they'd bring it and throw it down.' (LM, text)

 

see also ga-ndi.

wunh-na²       

[wun/na] coverb (intr.)

 

to ache
• Wunh-na nga-yu martdal. 'My foot is aching.' (HL)

 

see also derdawk-ga.

wunyjitjjin       

[wuøïicïin] nominal

 

red claw yabby Cherax quadricarinatus

wurdlu       

[wuêñu] nominal
dialect HL

 

calf

wurduju       

[wuêuïu] nominal

 

love song
• Wurduju ga-ba-bu-n. 'They are singing love songs.' (LM)

wurih-ma       

[wuÓi/ma] coverb (intr.)

 

to wriggle along

wurinyjulin       

[wuÓiøïulin] nominal

 

leaf

 

see also marak.

wurrguru       

[wurguÓu] nominal

 

devil

 

see also mamin, dirdawung.

wurrpbu       

[wurpbu] nominal
variant wurrpbum (HL, PH)

   1.

sea, ocean
• Lahan ngerre-gin wurrpbu-nehen. 'Our country has no ocean.' (LL)

   2.

salt water
• Wardan buluman, wurrpbu-leying ga-yu. 'The big saltwater crocodiles live in salt water.'

wut-da       

[wutda] coverb (tr.)

   1.

to be homesick
• Nga-ya-wa jorro-ma now Douglas wut-da nga-ma-n. 'I'm going back to Douglas now, I'm homesick.'

   2.

to dislike
• Wut-da nga-ma-n gahan lagiban, gu-ya-ngga-ja. 'I don't like that man, let him go.'

wutjbin       

[wucbin] nominal

   1.

greedy
• Wutjbin-gin ga-ya gahan nubuny. Ga-da danganyin wek-wek-ga. 'That boy is greedy. He swallows his tucker down.'
• Wutjbin-gin ga-ya. Jamba ginggu-nawu-ngana garradin. 'He is greedy. He doesn't give us money.'

   2.

inflamed
• Jarruk-yi ngan-ma-n-ma lari mahan. Munya ga-yu, wutjbin ga-yu munya. 'I have a boil here on my arm. It is inflamed, from the pus underneath.'

   3.

a big red falling star

wutj-ja       

[wucïa] coverb (intr.)

 

to scatter
• Wakban nga-yu-ma. Neyenggun-a ba-ya-nggi wutj-ja. 'I am alone. The others have scattered.' (LM)
• Borlwon wutj-ja ga-ma-n. 'The wind is scattering (the papers).' (HL)
• Wutj-ja nga-ra-n nibulin. 'I am scattering seed.' (LL)
• Gordal lihwa ga-ya. Wutj ga-ra-n danganyin. Wutj-ja la-ndi. 'She is no good in the head. She throws tucker away. She scattered it.' (LM)

wutjjurrh-ma       

[wucïur/ma] coverb (intr.)
dialect HL, PH, LL
variant wutjjugutjjuk-ga (PH, LL)

 

to rock
• Wutjjurrh-ma ga-ma-n wayi-tjjalbu warren. 'She's rocking the kid to sleep.' (HL)
• Ngagun nga-ni wutjjurrh-ma mahan chair-ba. 'Me, I'm rocking on this chair.' (HL)

wuyawu       

[wujawu] particle

   1.

all
• Lamang wuyawu lamarra-yi ga-ndi. 'The dog took all the meat.'

   2.

also, too
• Wirin gi-gondo-n gahan lardili-ba gi-ga-n garatjjin wuyawu. 'You've got sticks in your hair, and grass too.'

wuywuy-ma       

[wujwujma] coverb (intr.)
dialect HL

 

to breeze
• Bolwon wuywuy-ma ga-yu. 'A breeze is blowing.' (HL)
• Wuywuy-ma ma-yu dup-ba mayh-ba. 'I'll sit here in the breeze.' (HL)