DICTIONARY

This is called a “learner dictionary” because it is intended specifically for the person who is studying Rotuman. It differs from the Churchward dictionary in several ways: 1) It has fewer entries (eventually about 1,000), and they are only the most frequent or most important words; 2) the short form is given following the long form, whereas Churchward provides the number of the rule for deriving the short form from the long form; however, when the short form is not written any differently from the long form (as when the word ends in two vowels or a long vowel), then the short form is not given here; 3) other forms of the word and useful expressions which use the entry word are provided; and 4) other information that will help you use the word is given.

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afa/af	to mark
äfe/äf	liver
äfe/äf	one thousand
ạfi/ȧf	to thrive
ạfu/ạf	row (line)
aga/ag	character, quality
ag raksaʽ	sinful
aga/ag	to face
agʽạki	to face something toward
agai	to compete
hạiagạiget	sporting match, competition
apei	fine white mat
a’häe	to think
aʽhäeʽȧk	to remember
aʽsoko/aʽsok	to carry out
aʽsū	to give birth, birth
aire/aier	true
aierʽạki	to approve, believe
ala/al	to die, death
alʽȧk	to kill
ạlạlumu/ạlạlum	blessed, lucky
ạlạlumʽạkiga	blessing(s)
ao	to search
apei	fine white mat
asa/as	name
asa/as	sun
asa/as	yesterday
ʽe asa	yesterday
ạsu/ạs	smoke
ava/av	time, season, occasion
av sun ta	summer
av mạtit ta	winter
av roa he	long time
ʽe av ta	formerly, long ago
avat ne	when
se av het	until
aʽ-	prefix meaning ‘to make something x’
aʽsun	to heat up
aʽneʽneʽ	to strengthen
aʽfại	to hear
aʽfeke/aʽfek	to annoy (literally, to make angry)
aʽhäe	to think
aʽhäeʽȧk	to remember
aʽmou	used to
aʽririʽ	slow
aʽsoko/aʽsok	to reach, to carry out
aʽsu	to be born, to give birth; birth
aʽsu hoiʽȧk	to be born again
aʽuʽua	to die (polite form), retire, rest
fā	man, male
fä ʽes ituʽu	village chief
fạ’i/fȧʽ	to write
fäega/fäeag	language; to speak
fäeag het	word
fạiȧkseʽia (or fạiʽȧksia)	thank you
faka/fak	to be similar
fạki/fȧk	to break off
fak ma	like (something)
fakʽoafʽofa	happily
fạki/fȧk	to break off
fakmuri/fakmür	finally
fakpeje/fakpej	ceremonial speech; to give a ceremonial speech
faksoro/faksor	to beseech, apologize; free of charge
faliga/faliag	ear
famori/famör	people
famör helava	foreigner
fanfana/fanfan	sand
fara/far	to request
faraoa	flour
faraoa funut	bread
fatfata/fatfat	chest
fau	year
fạʽi/fȧʽ	to write, to tatoo
fȧʽ puk	to write a letter
fạʽu/fạʽ	back
ʽe fạʽ ne	behind
fea	afraid, nervous; fear
fepi/fep	late
fekau	priest, pastor
feke/fek	angry
se fek	i’m sorry (don’t be angry)
fekei	rotuman pudding, steamed in banana leaves
fepi/fep	late
fere/fer	to fly
filoʽu/filoʽ	head
fisi/fis	white
foa	coconut grater
foho/foh	law
folu/fol	three
forạu	to travel
forạut	passenger, traveler, guest
foro/for	body
foʽa/foaʽ	to land, step on
foʽou	new
foʽu/foʽ	sugar cane
fū	to stand
fumafua	back (of body)
funu/fun	to cook, boil
fun masun	to steam
fun pan	to fry
fupu/fup	to grow; profit
fupuag ta	roof
furi/für	to turn around
fürmaria	content, happy
futi/füt	to pull
gagaja/gagaj	chief, lord
gagaj ʽes ituʽu	district chief
garue	to work; work
garue mana	miracle
gou	I, me
haʽa/haʽ	taboo, holy
hafa/haf	half
hạfu/hạf	stone, rock
hötʽȧk hạfu	to lay a tombstone
hạf kirkiri	gravel
haga/hag	to feed
hagota/hagoat	to fish
hagoat vao	net fishing
hạgu/hạg	to awaken
haharạgi/haharȧg	youth, young
haharạgi/haharȧg	fat (person)
hạina/hạian	women, wife
hạipōaga/hạipōag	to meet
häke/häk	four
hale/häl	group
hanhapa/hanhap	side
hanhap ʽatmại ta	right side
hanhap seam ta	left side
hạni/hȧn	woman
hanisi/hanis	to love
hȧn sau	queen
leʽ hȧn sau	princess
hanisiof	love to you
hanua	land, country
hanua noho	city
hanua utu	province
hanue ta	home
hao tē	to plant
hao tē	to plant (something)
hapa/hap	side
hạsu/hạs	horse; gall bladder
hata/hat	to read, to count
hạʽu/hạʽ	clothing, cloth
hạʽȧk	to wear
hạʽ lā	pants
hạʽ fạli	sarong
suiof hạʽu	to undress
hạʽu/hạʽ	to arrive
hạʽum	to arrive (here)
hefu/hef	star
hegu/heg	pleasant
helava/helav	beautiful (person)
aʽhelav	beautiful
heleʽu/heleʽ	to reach, become
heua	few
hifu/hif	seven
heʽe/heʽ	octopus
heʽo/heʽ	to name, call
hili/hil	to choose, elect
hil tē	election
hisi/his	how many?, how much?
hofu/hof	to emerge
hoʽa/hoaʽ	to take, carry
motokä ʽafʽafa hoʽag	ambulance
hoʽaga	clan
hoi	turtle
hoi	full
hoi’ạki/hoiʽȧk	again, following
hosa/hoas	flower
hoti/höt	to board, get on
~motokā, ʽahại, pas	to board a car, boat, bus
höthötʽạki	to carry
hoʽi/höʽ	to return
huga/huag	inside; emotion
huga/huag	to smell
hula/hual	to wrestle
hula/hual	moon; month
hula/hual	seed
hue	fruit
huneʽele/huneʽel	beach
ia	he, she, him, her
ikou	taro leaves and meat steamed in banana leaves
iʽa/iaʽ	fish
ipu/ip	cup
iria	they two
irisa/iris	they, them
isfü	knee
isu/is	nose
jaojao	thin (person)
jarava/jarav	green-blue
jarav fak mạʽusu	green
jarav fak lȧg	blue
jạujạu	to hunt
jeamjeam	light (weight)
jio	bottom (as of the sea)
joni/jön	to run
joniof	to run away
jou	bottle

ka	and, but
ka	(at beginning of a sentence, this indicates it is a question)
kā	tomorrow
ʽe kā	tomorrow
käekäemạlumu	to smile
kafa/kaf	to slap
kafkafa/kafkaf	to clap
kahā	to laugh
kạinaga/kạinag	relatives
kakau	to bathe
kakau sȧs	to bathe in the sea
käkäʽe/käkäʽ	finger, toe
kal … ra	will not
kạlkạlu/kạlkạl	round; circle
kạlkạlʽạki	to spin around
kalofi/kalöf	egg
kamata/kamat	to begin
kạmia	dog
kao	to break, broken
tē kao fohot	crime
kat … ra	did not, is not
katoʽaga/katoʽag	feast, festival, ceremony
kaumaneʽaga/kaumaneʽag	group of friends; team
kau	‘group’
maneʽa	‘to play’
-ag	‘noun suffix’
kaunohoga /kaunohoag	family; household
kava/kav	ceremonial drink made from the root of the pepper plant
keia	poor
kele/kel	to see
keleag	sight
keleag lelei	beautiful
keleag raksaʽ	ugly
kele/kel	black
kemʽạki/kemʽȧk	to close the eyes
kepoi ka	if
kia	neck
kikia	only
kirkiri/kirkir	armpit
kohea	kitchen, worried
kokono/konon	sad
kokonʽȧk	worried about something
koro/kor	village
koroa	goods; possessions
kotä	then
koua	underground oven, feast
kumara/kumar	sweet potato
kumkumu/kumkum	chin, beard
kunei	goat
la	will, to (do something)
lā	leg, foot
laʽ lā	to go on foot
läe	sail
laga/lag	fly (insect)
lạgi/lȧg	sky; weather; wind; climate
lala/lal	deep
laloga/laloag	inside
lalo/lal ʽe laloag	in
lämäne/lämän	lemon
lamlama/lamlam	tall
laʽo/laʽ	to go
lei	whale’s tooth, necklace
lelei	good, beautiful
aʽlelei	well, to cure
hạiaʽleleiga	peace
leu	(usually with the directional –m) to come
leva/leav	hair
leʽe/leʽ	child, person
leʽ meaʽmeaʽ het	child, baby
lima/liam	five
lio	voice
lio tiʽ	loud voice
loho/loh	full, satisfied
lolo/lol	oil, coconut cream
lopo/lop	below
loʽu/loʽ	to bend, fold
loʽạki	to bend, fold something
luka/luak	short
ma	and, with
mā	faith
mäeva/mäeav	attitude
ma’oi	many
mafa/maf	eye, face
mạfu/mạf	quite mature, hard
mafua	old; leader, spokesperson
mamfua	old (plural)
maha/mah	heavy
mahmahana/mahmahan	warm
maho/mah	to become cold
maka/mak	song, dance, music
kaumakaga	choir
leʽ makat	singer
makʽạki	to sing (words)
mạlu/mạl	picture, photograph
malumu/malum	to smile; funny
mạlumʽ ȧk	to smile with, at
mamafa/mamaf	to wake up, get up
mamasa/mamas	dry; drying ceremony (for visitors), seashore
mạmi/mȧm	sweet
mamosa/mamoas	ripe
mamʽasa/mamʽas	cruel
maneʽa/maneaʽ	to play, game
mạnmạnu/mạnmạn	animal
maraga/marag	sermon
maragʽȧk	to preach
maräʽe/maräʽ	playing field
marö	victory
mạsmạsi/mȧsmȧs	salty
mata/mat	wet
mạtiti/mạtit	cold, cool
taumạtit	fever, feverish
mạuri/mȧür	life
tē mȧür	living creatures
maʽmaʽa/maʽmaʽ	clean
maʽkiga/maʽkiag	grandchild, grandparent
meaʽmeʽa/meaʽmeaʽ	small; a little
merene/meren	melon
mijarạni/mijarȧn	morning
miʽa/miaʽ	red
moa	chicken, rooster
monē	money
mori/mör	orange
mose/mös	to sleep
rē mose	to dream
pa mösʽia	sleepy
mosega/moseag	bed
mou	firm; tight
moumou	hard (object)
mua	front
ʽe mua ne	in front of
mumua	first
mutu/mut	to cut off

nā	to give
nātēfakhanisi	to give a gift
ne	which, that; or
neʽneʽi/neʽneʽ	healthy, strong; strength
aʽneʽneʽạki	to heal, to get better
niu	coconut palm; a coconut
noaʽia	thank you; good morning
nofoʽa/nofoaʽ	chair
noho/noh	to live, to dwell
nohoga	home
nojo/noj	correct; straight
nōnō ka	when
nōnō ma	soon
nuju/nuj	mouth
nuʽsura/nuʽsuar	door
nuʽsuar mutu	window
ofese/ofes	office
ofi/öf	empty, used up; to finish
ofrau	wide
ono/on	six
osi/ös	to prepare
ou	to cry
oʽi/öʽ	parent
ö’rua	parents
öʽhoni	mother
öʽfä	father
pa	to want
päe	to sit
päega/päeag	seat
pala/pal	to rise (as the sun)
pạni/pȧn	paint, to paint; color
para/par	to decay
pạri/pȧr	banana
parpara/parpar	soft (object)
pasa/pas	to play cards
pau	very
pạʽu/pạʽ	sea eel
pelu/pel	war
ʽại peluag	fighting stick, club
pene/pen	odor
pen raksaʽ	bad odor
pepa/peap	paper
pera/pear	soil; property
pearpera	dirty
perpere	yellow
pija/piaj	rat
po ‘e	because
po ʽe tese	why?
pō	to reach; able
pogi/pög	night
ʽe pogi	at night
poro/por	ball
pota/poat	tin can
poatkau	canned/tinned corned beef
pua	to be present
kat puapua ra	not present
puaka/puak	pig
puku/puk	book, letter
puk haʽa	bible
pula/pual	to open
pualʽạki	to open the eyes
pulmakau	cow, bull
leʽ ne pulmakau	calf
pulolo/pulol	lamp
pure/puer	to judge, rule; judge
rē puer	to judge
räe	to see
rạhi/rȧh	fire
rạhu/rạh	ashes
rạhrạh	gray
rako/rak	to study, learn; education, school
rakʽạki/rakʽȧk	to teach, show
leʽ ne rakot	teacher
raksaʽa/raksaʽ	bad
keleag raksaʽ	ugly
raksaʽat	disaster
rạmu/rạm	mosquito
rạni/rȧn	day
rạpi/rȧp	to swim
rau	leaf
rē	to make, do
rēag	rather
rēag ʽafʽaf	weak
rē taunȧʽ	to hold a meeting
rē mak	to have a hymn
rē titiʽȧk	to give honor
rē la fak se	to pretend
reko ʽe reko	for the benefit of, because of
rere	on, above; surface
ʽe rer ne	on top of
rī	house; building
fūag rī	foundation
rī hapa	shelter
rī rotu	church
rima/riam	light (of day)
riri/rir	to beat (drum)
riri’i/ririʽ	small (plural)
roa	long
rogrogo/rogrog	story, legend
rotu/rot	religion
rötʽạki/rötʽȧk	to endure; to forgive
rou	to leave
rū	pain
rū ala/ʽefe/ filoʽu	tooth/stomach/head ache
rua	two
ruaghulu	twenty
ruaghul ma tā	twenty one
rue	to move
rueʽạki	moving, stirring
rumu/rum	room
rum kakauag ta	bathroom
rum ʽateag ta	dining room
rum fäegag ta	living room
rum moseag ta	bedroom

säe	to open; open
sạfu/sạf	river
sagaväne/sagavän	brother
sȧghạni/sȧghȧn	sister
saghulu/saghul	ten
saghul ma tā	eleven
sagsaga/sagsag	handsome
saiʽo/saioʽ	to ask, question
säkänäve/säkänäv	shoe
sala/sal	path, road
sal het	trail
sarao	to rub; massage
leʽ sarao tē	masseur
sạsi/sȧs	sea
sasiga/sạsiag	sibling, cousin
sau	sovereign
sau fä	king
se	to
se	don’t
sei	who?
ʽon sei	whose?
seke/sek sekseke	to go for a walk
sema/seam	left
hanhap sema	left side
seminte	before
sere/ser	knife
seru/ser	comb
seʽe/seʽ	up
sigoa	namesake
siki/sik	to lift
siko/siok	to tell a lie
sio	down
tak sio	to lie down
siri/sir	to pass
sisi/sis	outside
siva/siav	fan
siva/siav	nine
siʽu/siʽ	arm, hand
garue ne siʽu	handicraft
soge/sög	hungry
soko/sok	to become, happen
sospene/sospen	pan, cooking pot
sousou	far
sū	wedding
sua	to sing
sua mak	to sing a song
suelʽạki/suelʽȧk	to raise
sui	bone, needle
sui tiʽ ta	the backbone
sui	to undo
sui haʽ	to undress
suka/suak	sugar
sunu/sun	hot
sun ta	heat; temperature
suru/sur	to enter
suruof	to enter (away from the speaker)
susu/sus	milk, breast
hō susu	to milk
tā	one
täe	there
taga/tag	bag
tähroro/tähror	fermented coconut meat
taka/tak	to lie down
takag ta	bed
takʽạki	to lie down, lay down
tạki/tȧk	to lure
tạku/tạk	doctor
tạk ta	usual form meaning doctor
tanoa	bowl in which kava is made
tạnu/tạn	water
tạn kakauget	swimming pool
tapen	how?
po tapen