Word List

This glossary gives the basic meaning of the Noongar words that appear in the stories and songs on this site. The spelling and meaning given for each word are taken from the stories and songs themselves, in consultation with the Wirlomin Noongar Language and Stories Committee and CERG.

Although we have mostly employed the spelling system agreed upon at a 1992 Noongar community meeting in Narrogin and still used in school-based Noongar language teaching today, the Wirlomin dialect features sounds more like ‘t’ than ‘d’ and ‘p’ than ‘b’.

We have included some examples of alternate spelling to reflect this. 

Click here to listen to words Iris Woods and Yibiyung Roma Winmar submitted to the 50 Words Project

 

AllABBWDDJDWKKWMNNGNYWY

A

NOONGARENGLISHAUDIODETAILS
Aliwa!look out!READ MORE
AnaquestionREAD MORE

B

NOONGARENGLISHAUDIODETAILS
Baand, perhapsREAD MORE
Baakanto biteREAD MORE
BaakaninybitingREAD MORE
Baalhe, she, itREAD MORE
Baalanghe/she-with; his, hers, itsREAD MORE
BaalaptheyREAD MORE
Baaloorl, Baalaritj, Baalarhidden, vanishedREAD MORE
Baam, Baminto hit, strike, putREAD MORE
Baamanystriking, puttingREAD MORE
BaanexposedREAD MORE
Baarang, Paarangbranches are used to make camp, bed and tableREAD MORE
Baboorsound of water and movementREAD MORE
BakidjinyfightingREAD MORE
Bakitjto fightREAD MORE
BanyasweatREAD MORE
Barangto grab, to siezeREAD MORE
BaranginygrabbingREAD MORE
Bardstart; start-up; jumpREAD MORE
Bardangto jumpREAD MORE
BardanginyjumpingREAD MORE
Bardinystart upREAD MORE
Bayny, Paynywild strawberry, pigface. Very nice to eatREAD MORE
BenangtomorrowREAD MORE
BibibreastREAD MORE
BidjdryREAD MORE
Biet, Birtpath, sinew, veinREAD MORE
Birnyidi, Birndiunmarried, unbetrothedREAD MORE
BoafarREAD MORE
BoirockREAD MORE
Bokal, Bokatjfar awayREAD MORE
Bokidjaover there, distant READ MORE
Boodjaearth, sand, countryREAD MORE
Bookalback, wave, moundREAD MORE
Bookal dandanginyclimbing downREAD MORE
Boolarangmany (emphatically)READ MORE
BoonkissREAD MORE
Boordalater, by-and-byREAD MORE
Boorn, Borntree, wood, stickREAD MORE
Booting, Pootingsmall sweet pigfaceREAD MORE
Bordaknext to, closeREAD MORE

BW

NOONGARENGLISHAUDIODETAILS
BwooarinsideREAD MORE

D

NOONGARENGLISHAUDIODETAILS
Daamouth, languageREAD MORE
Daalal, Daaliny, TaalinytongueREAD MORE
Daatj, DatjmeatREAD MORE
DabakarnslowlyREAD MORE
Dalyalgreen leavesREAD MORE
Dalyerak, Talyerak, Tjaltjraakblue mallee, grows pink flowersREAD MORE
Dandang, Djandangto climbREAD MORE
DandanginyclimbingREAD MORE
Darbowdive, pass through or underREAD MORE
Darepenter, insideREAD MORE
Darlanginychase, chasingREAD MORE
Darlanginy wunfollowing, pursuing (emphasis)READ MORE
DatquietREAD MORE
Dat nyinquietly sit; be quietREAD MORE
Dawanbinybecoming disappearedREAD MORE
DawoolthighREAD MORE
Dekin, DakarnbreakREAD MORE
Demangrandparent, ancestorREAD MORE
Demangkagrandparents; the old peopleREAD MORE
DemigrandparentREAD MORE
Dookeninycooking, fixingREAD MORE
DowakwaddyREAD MORE
Doyntj-DoyntjtogetherREAD MORE

DJ

NOONGARENGLISHAUDIODETAILS
Djaanakghost, spiritREAD MORE
Djen, TjienfootREAD MORE
Djenawirdoofoot-tiredREAD MORE
Djerang-apinyfat-becomingREAD MORE
Djertlittle birdREAD MORE
Dji-ak, Tji-akround leaf, has sweet (pink) berriesREAD MORE
Djilgreen leavesREAD MORE
Djinangto see, to lookREAD MORE
Djinanginyseeing, lookingREAD MORE
Djindjiexchange, marriage?READ MORE
Djirrdi, TjirrdifeathersREAD MORE
Djoorl, Tjoorlsweet bulb found in ground, round leafREAD MORE

DW

NOONGARENGLISHAUDIODETAILS
Dwongk-kaditjhear, understandREAD MORE
Dwongka-btdeaf, lit. ear-withoutREAD MORE
Dwoordbaalkaatseal (lit. 'dog his head')READ MORE
Dwoort, TwoortdogREAD MORE

K

NOONGARENGLISHAUDIODETAILS
KaaditjinyunderstandingREAD MORE
KaarlfireREAD MORE
Kaarl-maatfirestick (lit. fire-leg)READ MORE
KaarlakhomeREAD MORE
Kaarlangfire-withREAD MORE
KaatheadREAD MORE
KaawlaughREAD MORE
KaawinylaughingREAD MORE
Kaditj-btignorant (lit. understanding-without)READ MORE
Kalyakoorlforever, alwaysREAD MORE
Kamaklong fruit that's found on vines, good to eat when ripeREAD MORE
KampgatherREAD MORE
KanangkoorshiningREAD MORE
KarangangryREAD MORE
KarepholeREAD MORE
KarlanghotREAD MORE
KayayesREAD MORE
KayepwaterREAD MORE
Kebalyangsoaking wetREAD MORE
Kedinycarry, carryingREAD MORE
Ken-wabinysinging (lit. dance-playing)READ MORE
Ken, KandanceREAD MORE
KeninydancingREAD MORE
Kenyone, aloneREAD MORE
Kep-minywater-likeREAD MORE
KerlboomerangREAD MORE
Kert-kertquickly, fastREAD MORE
Kiinynone, nothingREAD MORE
KitjspearREAD MORE
Koboorl-wirthungry, weak (lit. stomach-empty)READ MORE
KokandjerisheepREAD MORE
KokonwaitREAD MORE
KongkuncleREAD MORE
KoodjaltwoREAD MORE
KoomalpossumREAD MORE
KoombarbigREAD MORE
Kooraback, long agoREAD MORE
KoordamaatsweetheartREAD MORE
Koordingwild carrotREAD MORE
Koorepgrows on vines, eat any timeREAD MORE
Koorlmove, goREAD MORE
Koorlibush turkeyREAD MORE
KoorlinygoingREAD MORE
Koorrbiirttoadstool, mushroomREAD MORE
KoortheartREAD MORE
KoraagainREAD MORE
Koramaya, MayakoraechoREAD MORE
KorlagainREAD MORE
KornthutREAD MORE

KW

NOONGARENGLISHAUDIODETAILS
Kwadjanganbefore, in front ofREAD MORE
KweidjiskinnyREAD MORE
Kwetj-minythin (bone like)READ MORE
KwokaquokaREAD MORE
Kwondongwild cherry, wild peachREAD MORE
KwoorwallabyREAD MORE
KwopgoodREAD MORE
Kwopidakvery goodREAD MORE
KwordidjinythrowingREAD MORE
Kworditjto throwREAD MORE

M

NOONGARENGLISHAUDIODETAILS
Maalakshadow, shade, bushREAD MORE
MaammanREAD MORE
Maambanal, Maambakoort, Maambangat, Mambaralocean, or associated with the oceanREAD MORE
Maarwind, air, atmosphere, five, hand, fingerREAD MORE
Maarndiyoung womanREAD MORE
Maarolawalanstrong wind (north?)READ MORE
Maarrwind, cloudREAD MORE
MaatlegREAD MORE
Malvery sweet to ear when ripe, grows on the ground of prickly bushesREAD MORE
Malkar, Malgarmagic, thunderREAD MORE
MamangwhaleREAD MORE
MambakoortoceanREAD MORE
MambangatoceanREAD MORE
Mambaraspirit creatureREAD MORE
MandorlcloudyREAD MORE
Mandornap, MandoobornapFrenchman's PeakREAD MORE
MarhandREAD MORE
MarakarmREAD MORE
Maya, Maay, MaayasoundREAD MORE
Merenyfood, vegetableREAD MORE
Miilyepfungus that grows on jarrah treesREAD MORE
Min minsmall flat white fungus that also grows on trees and shows light on dark nightsREAD MORE
MinditjillREAD MORE
MirnitjfaceREAD MORE
Miyensmall red bitter onionREAD MORE
MoorditjstrongREAD MORE
Moorlanback (anatomical)READ MORE
MoortfamilyREAD MORE
MoyernephewREAD MORE

N

NOONGARENGLISHAUDIODETAILS
NaadjalwhyREAD MORE
NaanstopREAD MORE
NaatjwhatREAD MORE
Nadjilwhy, what forREAD MORE
Nanstay, stopREAD MORE
NanupcampREAD MORE
Nidjathis, thatREAD MORE
Nirnt, NirrnttailREAD MORE
NookertsleepREAD MORE
Noongarperson, manREAD MORE
Norlakshade-ofREAD MORE
NoytjdeadREAD MORE

NG

NOONGARENGLISHAUDIODETAILS
Ngaamar-minywaterhole-likeREAD MORE
Ngaanto eatREAD MORE
Ngaanalangaynyall eating togetherREAD MORE
Ngaangkmother, sunREAD MORE
Ngaarddown, belowREAD MORE
Ngaardanghunt, search, trackREAD MORE
NgaarisalmonREAD MORE
NgaarninyeatingREAD MORE
NgaatbesideREAD MORE
NgaatbesideREAD MORE
NgainyIREAD MORE
Ngalawe, usREAD MORE
NgalakweREAD MORE
Nganmy, mine, meREAD MORE
Nganalangmine (emphasis)READ MORE
Nganangmine (lit. me-with)READ MORE
NganymeREAD MORE
NgardabeneathREAD MORE
NgardanginyhuntingREAD MORE
NgardidownREAD MORE
NgayanginyscreamingREAD MORE
NgaytjIREAD MORE
Ngediksap of the yate tree. very sweetREAD MORE
NgolangafterREAD MORE
Ngoolooafraid ?READ MORE
NgoonbrotherREAD MORE
Ngoorndinylaying down, reclining, lyingREAD MORE
Ngoorntlay downREAD MORE
NgwerenbeautifulREAD MORE
Ngwerenbinybecoming beautiful (ngerany)READ MORE

NY

NOONGARENGLISHAUDIODETAILS
NyidinycoldREAD MORE
Nyinto sit, to beREAD MORE
Nyindishaved sticks?READ MORE
Nyinelangaynyall together sitting, beingREAD MORE
Nyininysitting, beingREAD MORE
Nyirnemgrows on vines with a nutty tasteREAD MORE
Nyoodansand hillsREAD MORE
Nyoolangayou all ?READ MORE
NyoonakyourREAD MORE
Nyoonangyours; lit. you-withREAD MORE
NyoondokyouREAD MORE

W

NOONGARENGLISHAUDIODETAILS
WaabinyplayingREAD MORE
Waadamto killREAD MORE
Waalitj, WaarlitjeagleREAD MORE
Waamstranger, otherREAD MORE
Waanan, Waancreep, sneak, dropREAD MORE
Waanganangaspeaking a lotREAD MORE
Waangkto speak, to say, to talkREAD MORE
Waangkelanginyall talking togetherREAD MORE
Waangkinyspeaking, talkingREAD MORE
Waaninycreeping, sneakingREAD MORE
WaardinysearchingREAD MORE
WaarinyhangingREAD MORE
Waaripwave, sea, depression between two wavesREAD MORE
Wadarn, Wardarnocean, seaREAD MORE
Wadjelawhite person, non-AboriginalREAD MORE
Walang-walanginysinging, crying out, yellingREAD MORE
WalinycryingREAD MORE
Walyemarasweet bulb with one long leafREAD MORE
WarabadREAD MORE
Warany, WarinyhangingREAD MORE
Wardiwild parsnipREAD MORE
Waritall, long, slender, wiryREAD MORE
Weiran, weirnspiritREAD MORE
WerandREAD MORE
WetjemuREAD MORE
WeyarnafraidREAD MORE
WidjardifferentREAD MORE
Wierdinygoing down, fallingREAD MORE
WindjawhereREAD MORE
Winyarnweak, pitifulREAD MORE
Wiranwoi, WiratwistingREAD MORE
WirlocurlewREAD MORE
WoitjgrassREAD MORE
Woon(emphasis)READ MORE
Woorafar, far awayREAD MORE
Woordinyvacant ant hillREAD MORE
WoorinylongREAD MORE
WortawayREAD MORE
Wort-bilithat sideREAD MORE
Wort-koorlgo awayREAD MORE

Y

NOONGARENGLISHAUDIODETAILS
Yaak-ngatstand next to, againstREAD MORE
YaakinystandingREAD MORE
Yaang, Yoongamato giveREAD MORE
YaanginygivingREAD MORE
YaarakoorlrunREAD MORE
YalawaitREAD MORE
Yarangon top, aboveREAD MORE
YeyinowREAD MORE
YiardinysingREAD MORE
YirahighREAD MORE
Yirangat a height, up there (lit. high-with)READ MORE
Yirangitjaup highREAD MORE
Yok, York, YorkawomanREAD MORE
Yokanbindiyoung womanREAD MORE
YongkakangarooREAD MORE
Yooakwild potatoesREAD MORE
Yoorlyangkangaroo berriesREAD MORE
Yoowarlcome hither, this wayREAD MORE
Yoowarl-bilithis sideREAD MORE
Yoowartno, not, nothingREAD MORE
YorancontentREAD MORE